Random Access Files without UDT's

I am using Random File Access and I want each record to be defined like this

Key as Integer
Name as string * 50
DOB as date
SSN as string * 11


Is there a way I can define each record without using a User Defined Type? Is there a way I could use a collection instead or some other method? As far as I know the only way to do this is by using a UDT.

you could create a class module and add that to a collection.

Keep in mind that Dictionaries are much faster than collections and with a dictionary you check if a Key exists or not.

What is a "Dictionaries"? Also how would I add the fields to a collection?

U could Use PropertyBags as well. Just wondering, why not UDTs?

a Dictionary is similar to a collection go here:

http://www.vbwm.com/art_1999/whatsnew/Dictionary.asp

I would love to use UDT's but I really don't know how I can pass a UDT from a DLL to a exe program. My exe program is calling the dll. So is there a way I can get the structure of the UDT? Example of my UDT is:

Private type tmyType
Name as string * 50
date as double
Number as string * 20
iNumberLines as integer
end Type
public myType as tmyType

Now how would the exe know what field are in the UDT that is defined in the DLL?

A UDT must be declared as Public in a Class module. UDT Strings cannot be fixed length.

VB Code:

[b][i]DLL Class1[/i][/b]
 
Public Type tmyType
    Name As String
    date As Double
    Number As String
    iNumberLines As Integer
End Type
 
Public Property Get SampleData() As tmyType
    Dim udtTemp As tmyType
 
    udtTemp.Name = "Hello World"
    udtTemp.date = Now
    udtTemp.Number = "1000"
    udtTemp.iNumberLines = 734
 
    SampleData = udtTemp
 
End Property
 
[b][i]Client exe project[/i][/b]
 
Dim objTest As Project1.Class1
Dim udtTest As Project1.tmyType
        
Set objTest = New Project1.Class1
        
udtTest = objTest.SampleData
 
Debug.Print udtTest.Name, udtTest.Date, udtTest.iNumberLines, udtTest.Number
 
Set objTest = Nothing