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Thread: Syntax Styles, Shortcuts and binding in VBA

  1. #1

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    Syntax Styles, Shortcuts and binding in VBA

    I have a questions that i think have obvious answers but i just wanted to ask some of you guys here.

    I come accross every now and then someone who uses a convention in VBA syntax that almost looks like its obfuscated. Its all late bound with no complete declarations and variable symbols are used instead. for example

    Code:
    Function ListPaths(dic)
        Dim s$, v
        For Each v In dic
            s = s & v & " --> " & dic(v) & vbLf
        Next
        ListPaths = s
    End Function
    Ive been programming for decades and this syntax looks foreign to me until i start breaking it down. but i kind of like its conciseness but it just looks difficult to follow.

    What are the benefits of coding like this? im particularly interested in the '$' used to declare the string and can use that technique to also return a string!?
    Yes!!!
    Working from home is so much better than working in an office...
    Nothing can beat the combined stress of getting your work done on time whilst
    1. one toddler keeps pressing your AVR's power button
    2. one baby keeps crying for milk
    3. one child keeps running in and out of the house screaming and shouting
    4. one wife keeps nagging you to stop playing on the pc and do some real work.. house chores
    5. working at 1 O'clock in the morning because nobody is awake at that time
    6. being grossly underpaid for all your hard work


  2. #2
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    Re: Syntax Styles, Shortcuts and binding in VBA

    unlike some other languages where all variables on a line are defined by the last type
    vb6 /vba has to have every variable type defined individually, makes this shortcut style attractive

    i certainly use variants more often than i should, but god gave them to us to use

    and can use that technique to also return a string!?
    seems to work when i tested
    i do my best to test code works before i post it, but sometimes am unable to do so for some reason, and usually say so if this is the case.
    Note code snippets posted are just that and do not include error handling that is required in real world applications, but avoid On Error Resume Next

    dim all variables as required as often i have done so elsewhere in my code but only posted the relevant part

    come back and mark your original post as resolved if your problem is fixed
    pete

  3. #3

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    Re: Syntax Styles, Shortcuts and binding in VBA

    i certainly use variants more often than i should, but god gave them to us to use
    Haha, and i try to be so disciplined with my conventions. i think im going to try using this convention for a bit and see if it improves my time coding, it certainly looks faster.
    Yes!!!
    Working from home is so much better than working in an office...
    Nothing can beat the combined stress of getting your work done on time whilst
    1. one toddler keeps pressing your AVR's power button
    2. one baby keeps crying for milk
    3. one child keeps running in and out of the house screaming and shouting
    4. one wife keeps nagging you to stop playing on the pc and do some real work.. house chores
    5. working at 1 O'clock in the morning because nobody is awake at that time
    6. being grossly underpaid for all your hard work


  4. #4
    PowerPoster Zvoni's Avatar
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    Re: Syntax Styles, Shortcuts and binding in VBA

    In general: i don't like the week "type"-Enforcing in vb6/vba, and i don't like variants, that's for sure.
    It's just a source of hard to track bugs
    Consider this:
    Code:
    Sub main()
    Dim s1$ 'As String
    Dim s2$ 'As String
    Dim v1  'As Variant
    Dim v2  'As Variant
    Dim l1& 'As Long
    Dim l2& 'As Long
        s1 = 10
        s2 = 5
        v1 = 10
        v2 = 5
        l1 = 10
        l2 = 5
        Debug.Print s1 & s2
        Debug.Print s1 + s2
        Debug.Print v1 & v2
        Debug.Print v1 + v2
        Debug.Print l1 & l2
        Debug.Print l1 + l2
    End Sub
    Returns:
    Code:
    105
    105
    105
     15 
    105
     15
    Last edited by Zvoni; Tomorrow at 31:69 PM.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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    One IDE to bring them all, and to the Framework bind them,
    in the Land of Redmond, where the Windows lie
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  5. #5
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    Re: Syntax Styles, Shortcuts and binding in VBA

    Consider this:
    is that different than if the variable are fully dimensioned? i don't believe so, the bigger issue there is the possibly incorrect use of & or +, depending on the desired result
    i do my best to test code works before i post it, but sometimes am unable to do so for some reason, and usually say so if this is the case.
    Note code snippets posted are just that and do not include error handling that is required in real world applications, but avoid On Error Resume Next

    dim all variables as required as often i have done so elsewhere in my code but only posted the relevant part

    come back and mark your original post as resolved if your problem is fixed
    pete

  6. #6
    PowerPoster Zvoni's Avatar
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    Re: Syntax Styles, Shortcuts and binding in VBA

    Quote Originally Posted by westconn1 View Post
    is that different than if the variable are fully dimensioned? i don't believe so, the bigger issue there is the possibly incorrect use of & or +, depending on the desired result
    True, there is no difference in fully Dimensioned, but it was more about to avoid variants.
    v1 & v2 implies String-Concat, while v1+v2 implies numeric addition.
    Yes, i know, that in this case (as well for l1 & l2) the operator is the culprit by implicitely casting it to the types string/long.
    It's just about to avoid variants and as you, correctly, said the "misuse" of those 2 operators
    Last edited by Zvoni; Tomorrow at 31:69 PM.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    One System to rule them all, One Code to find them,
    One IDE to bring them all, and to the Framework bind them,
    in the Land of Redmond, where the Windows lie
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    People call me crazy because i'm jumping out of perfectly fine airplanes.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Code is like a joke: If you have to explain it, it's bad

  7. #7

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    Re: Syntax Styles, Shortcuts and binding in VBA

    Does this indirectly point to my problem with arrays that a posted a few days ago regarding variant string arrays and actual string variants?

    https://www.vbforums.com/showthread....-to-a-function
    Yes!!!
    Working from home is so much better than working in an office...
    Nothing can beat the combined stress of getting your work done on time whilst
    1. one toddler keeps pressing your AVR's power button
    2. one baby keeps crying for milk
    3. one child keeps running in and out of the house screaming and shouting
    4. one wife keeps nagging you to stop playing on the pc and do some real work.. house chores
    5. working at 1 O'clock in the morning because nobody is awake at that time
    6. being grossly underpaid for all your hard work


  8. #8
    PowerPoster Zvoni's Avatar
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    Re: Syntax Styles, Shortcuts and binding in VBA

    At a guess: yes.
    i remember having something similar
    Last edited by Zvoni; Tomorrow at 31:69 PM.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    One System to rule them all, One Code to find them,
    One IDE to bring them all, and to the Framework bind them,
    in the Land of Redmond, where the Windows lie
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    People call me crazy because i'm jumping out of perfectly fine airplanes.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Code is like a joke: If you have to explain it, it's bad

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