Is this possible in vb ?

[Ulrich Gerkmann-Bartels]

Dim a,b As Integer
Dim a2,b2 as Integer

a=2
b=3
a2=(a)
b2=(b)

a2 + b2 calculate 5 ??

How can i work with pointer ?

in dbase iV it was possible with a syntax like this..

&a2. give 2

Please Help ....

[r0ach]

First of all, a common mistake:

Dim a, b as integer
Dim a2, b2 as integer

This is what happens with this:
a and a2 are declared as Variants
b and b2 are declared as Integers

Dim a as Integer, b as integer
Dim a2 as integer, b2 as integer

Would be the correct alternative.

Then, about your problem.

As far as i know, VB does not support Pointers. The only sort of Pointer thing, is the AddressOf function, but you shouldn't ask me about that. I don't know how it works. It only returns the addresses of functions. (I think)

[JorgeLedo]

Could someone tell if it is possible.

[r0ach]

What do you want to do?

I don't know why you want to use a pointer.

a2 = (a)
b2 = (b)

This sets the value of a2 equal to the value of a, and b2 equal to b.

Label1.Caption = a & " " & a2 & " " & b & " " & b2

will set Label1's caption to:

2 2 3 3

so

Label1.Caption = a2 + b2

would set the Caption to:

5

I don't understand what you want.

[JorgeLedo]

A pointer in C works like this:

a = 2
b = (a)

OK now b = 2 (fine).
But if you do this.

a = 5

Without anything else b is now 5.
A pointer works like a "=A1" in excel if you change "A1" the value of the current cell will change automatically.

[Fox]

I think in VB 5.0 was an undocumented function farptr but AFAIK it doesn't still exist. But you can set something like a pointer. However, it works only with classes so you can't point to an integer.

Dim A as new TestClass 'Only a test, class doesn't really exist
Dim B as TestClass 'This will be the pointer

A.SetX 15

Set B = A 'B points to A

Print B.GetX 'Returns x of A

it doens't matter wich var, A or B, you modify. They're always the same. It's like if A and B both points to the 'real' value .

[Fox]

PS:
Don't worry about pointers in VB, code in C if you want to use pointers . For example if you call a function, VB automatically just transfers the pointers (You have to declare as ByVal explicitely to transfer *not* the pointer).