[RESOLVED] Using dynamic, user-defined type arrays as a function return type

This is a pretty frustrating problem with VB6, and I'm hoping someone knows the solution...

I have a user-defined type declared in a module file:

Code:

---

Public Type T_PRODUCT_STEP
  StepId As Long
End Type

---

And in the same module, a function:

Code:

---

Public Function ProductStep(MyVar As String) as T_PRODUCT_STEP()
    Dim StepListRet() As T_PRODUCT_STEP
   
    ReDim StepListRet(3)
    StepListRet(0).StepId = 1
    StepListRet(1).StepId = 2
    StepListRet(2).StepId = 3
    StepListRet(3).StepId = 4
    ProductStepList = StepListRet
End Function

---

Now, no matter what I do I can't get the function to return the array or read it on the other side. The above code returns an error on "ProductStepList = StepListRet" (can't assign to array). If I try:

Code:

---

    Dim StepListRet() As T_PRODUCT_STEP
   
    ReDim ProductStepList(3)
    ProductStepList(0).StepId = 1
    ProductStepList(1).StepId = 2
    ProductStepList(2).StepId = 3
    ProductStepList(3).StepId = 4

---

I get an error on the first StepId assignment (argument not optional, looks like it's trying to call the function instead of assigning to an array).

If I comment everything except the ReDim ProductStepList(3) the program executes, and I can read the array of empty type elements, ie.:

Code:

---

Dim test() as T_PRODUCT_STEP

test = ProductStepList("dfd")
Msgbox test(2).StepId

---

I just can't populate the newly created array with values. Anyone have any ideas?

Easiest solution would be to use Variants everywhere, but shouldn't have to...

Thanks,
Brian

Seems to me you're calling the wrong function. Shouldn't:

VB Code:

Dim test() as T_PRODUCT_STEP
 
test = [b]ProductStepList[/b]("dfd")
Msgbox test(2).StepId

...be...

VB Code:

Dim test() as T_PRODUCT_STEP
 
test = [b]ProductStep[/b]("dfd")
Msgbox test(2).StepId

?

chem

Yes, it should be ProjectStepList in the function definition... I typed it out since I'm flipping between Linux web browser and VMWare. Hopefully there's no other obvious typos...

Thanks,
Brian

Well, the most obvious typo I saw, was that "ProductStep" returns as "ProductStepList". When I fixed that, and used this code, it worked fine for me..

VB Code:

Private Type T_PRODUCT_STEP
   StepId As Long
End Type
 
Private Function ProductStepList(MyVar As String) As T_PRODUCT_STEP()
    Dim StepListRet() As T_PRODUCT_STEP
    
    ReDim StepListRet(3)
    StepListRet(0).StepId = 1
    StepListRet(1).StepId = 2
    StepListRet(2).StepId = 3
    StepListRet(3).StepId = 4
    ProductStepList = StepListRet
End Function
 
Private Sub Command1_Click()
Dim test() As T_PRODUCT_STEP
 
test = ProductStepList("dfd")
MsgBox test(2).StepId
End Sub

chem

That is strange. Previously I was receiving the "Cannot assign to array" error on the last line of ProductStepList(). It is now working with the code you supplied, but with Public type/function in a module instead of Private. No idea why it didn't before.

Thanks again for the quick reply... glad it does work and I'm not going completely crazy.

Brian

No problem. Remember to mark your thread as resolved when you get your answer :p

You can either use the forum tools menu above or edit your original post :)

chem