Split into an array?

i just came across this problem, and was wondering if someone could explain it to me... i have simplified the code...

Code:

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Dim arrReferences()
arrReferences = Split(strTemp, ",")

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the above code would always throw a type mismatch error... however, when i alter it to:

Code:

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Dim arrReferences ' notice i removed the parentheses
arrReferences = Split(strTemp, ",")

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it works like a charm... why would this be?... because of variant types?... i assumed that vb would prefer me telling it that i would be using this variable as an array...? i'm just curious...

It is just a quirk of VBScript. I've complained about it many times.

[2nd Attempt to Post: I think I just saw the DB take a crap.]

I don't think VB/VBScript deals with pointers. I think the = operator can't recast an array to fit the results of the Split, but it can shove an array into a variant and let memory management clean up the mess.

I could be wrong. I'm sure variants are just memory pointers to the OS, but I don't think the VB engines are aware of the smoke and mirrors.

Anyway, you can't do cool things like...

Code:

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myArray(3..7) = Split(myString, myDelim, 5)

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But I guess I've been spoiled by the Poetry of Perl.

Quote:

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I don't think VB/VBScript deals with pointers.

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It does, but it shields the programmer from them. (There are hidden functions like StrPtr and VarPtr in VB that you can use to get pointers). I would think anything declared as a Variant or Object would have to be a pointer. It wouldn't make sense to me otherwise.

The short answer here is:

Change
Dim arrReferences()
to
Dim arrReferences

thanks, but i think that i've already discussed that... i'm simply curious of why this has to be? i assumed that vb would appreciate me preparing it to use an array.. hence my dimensioning a dynamic array... instead, vb requires that the coder not use the parentheses... ?

3 articles you should read that may help explain why (these articles are in CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER):

http://www.4guysfromrolla.com/webtech/032801-1.shtml

http://www.4guysfromrolla.com/webtech/041101-1.shtml

http://www.4guysfromrolla.com/webtech/050201-1.shtml