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Last Updated 6-30-2010

Visual Basic.NET Arrays

Introduction

Without using arrays, it is still possible to perform computations, process numeric data and so on. In some applications, one has to collect the data values, store them in the program, and be able to access each value later on. For example, consider an application designed for book keeping in a bookstore. It requires entering the name, ISBN, author's name and other data for each book, one at a time. The entered data should be stored in the computer's memory for certain processing required by the office. Without using arrays, you can write a program to get the data for one book, store it in variables and do some processing. But once the next book's data is entered, it will be stored in the same variables, hence erasing the previously stored data. What is the solution? Is it possible to declare enough variables to store the data for all the books in the store? That would be similar to the old-fashioned paper-based bookkeeping; besides it would be practically impossible. Luckily, programming languages have a data structure called arrays, which provides a solution for this kind of problem. By using arrays, many data values of the same type can be stored in the computer's memory under one single name. In other words, an array can be thought of as a variable that can store many data values of the same data type, instead of just a single value. Below are examples of arrays of different objects:

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Definition

An array is a data structure that is used to store data values of the same data type in the computer's memory under one name. Like a variable, to use an array in a Visual Basic program, the array must be declared before it is used.

Declaration of One-Dimensional Array

At declaration time, the name of the array, data type of the values that can be stored in it, and its size should be specified. To name an array, follow the same naming rules and standards as those for variables. Declaration syntax for VB.NET is as follows:

Dim|Private|Public ArrayName(LastIndex) As DataType

• Dim | Private | Public:
  • Dim: Example: Dim Array1(50). The Dim keyword is used when declaring an array with local scope.
  
  
  • Private: Example: Private Array2(50). The Private keyword is used when declaring an array with module scope.
  
  
  • Public: Example: Public Array3(50). The Public keyword is used when declaring an array with Project scope.
  
  
• ArrayName: This is the name given to the array.


• LastIndex: This must be a nonnegative integer value. This is the maximum number of elements you expect to store in the array.


• DataType: This is the data type of the values stored in the array. i.e. Integer or Double.

Array Index

At declaration time, enough memory is allocated to store values of the specified data type. Each of the allocated memory locations is referenced by a nonnegative Index value for that element. The Index of the first element in an array in Visual Basic.NET is always 0. The elements are accessed sequentially, as can be seen in the following examples:

Example 1

Declare an array to store the area codes of ten cities in Alaska. Do they have ten cities in Alaska? Assume that the area codes are three-digit whole numbers, i.e. (0, 1, 2, 3... 9):

Dim AreaCode(10) As Integer

With the above declaration, ten consecutive memory locations of two bytes each will be allocated in the computer's memory, and the array indexes proceed from 0 to 9, with the first element being 0, and the last element being 9. The following is a represenation of how the declaration Dim AreaCode(10) would appear in the computer's memory:

Notice that value of all the elements in an array in Visual Basic.NET are initialized to 0 when the array is decalred.

Accessing Array Elements

Each array element can be used like a single variable of the same data type. To access an array element, state the name of the array with the element you want to access in parentheses. For example: AreaCode(0) will access the first element in the array described in Example 1 above.

Example 2

Declare an array to store the prices of 5 video games.

Dim Price(5) as float

With the above declaration, five consecutive memory locations of four bytes each will be allocated in the computer's memory, and the array indexes proceed from 0 to 4, with the first element being 0, and the last element being 4. The following is a represenation of how the declaration Dim Price(5) would appear in the computer's memory:

Perform the following operations on this array:

1. Store 12.50 in the first element of the Price array.
• Price(0)=12.5
• The array in memory would now appear as:




Price
Index	0	1	2	3	4
Value	12.50	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00



2. Store 89.95 at index 2 of the Price array.
• Price(2)=89.95
• The array in memory would now appear as:



Price
Index	0	1	2	3	4
Value	12.50	0.00	89.95	0.00	0.00



3. Store 19.95 at index j given that j=3.
• Dim j As Integer=3
• Price(j)=19.99
• The array in memory would now appear as:



Price
Index	0	1	2	3	4
Value	12.50	0.00	89.95	19.99	0.00



4. Store 36 at the index 1 greater than j
• Price(j+1)=36
• The array in memory would now appear as:



Price
Index	0	1	2	3	4
Value	12.50	0.00	89.95	19.99	36.00



5. Store the sum of values in index locations 3 and 4 in index location 1.
• Price(1)=Price(3)+Price(4)
• The array in memory would now appear as:



Price
Index	0	1	2	3	4
Value	12.50	55.99	89.95	19.99	36.00

Working with One-Dimensional Arrays

Arrays and loops go hand in hand. When working with arrays, one often needs to display the entire array, find the maximum or minimum value stored int the array, search for a certain value in the array, and so on. In such cases, a loop structure is needed.

Example 3

Perform the following operations in sequence:

1. Declare an array to store the test scores of 25 students.
• Const ArraySize As Integer=25
• Dim Score(ArraySize) As Integer


2. Fill the array with random test scores between 0 and 100.
• Dim Index As Integer
• For Index = 0 to cSize
• Score(Index)=Rnd( )*100
• Next Index


3. Assume that array Score is filled with random numbers. Display all the scores in the output Label.
• Dim Index As Integer
• For Index=0 to cSize
• lblShow.Text=lblShow.Text & Score(Index).ToString & vbcrlf
• Next Index

Create the Form by following the steps below:

1. Select the Form1.vb[Design] tab.
2. Add the label control to your form.
3. Place it in the upper right corner.
4. Extend the length of the form to allow the display of 25 lines (450-500 pixel length).

Figure Array-3: Form Design for example 3

In order to continue this guide and finish Example #3 where we fill an Array with random values press the Button Below:

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