Visual Basic Tutorial - Variable Scope - Enumeration Declaration, Syntax and Examples, Nullable Types Declaration, Syntax and Examples

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Last Updated 6-30-2010

How to work with Scope in Visual Basic

Programs written contain Variables, Constants and Arrays. In modern programming languages variables are only valid in a limited section of the program, and invalid or even non-existent in other parts. The part of the program that a variable is valid and can be used by the programmer is referred to as: Scope.

In order to help understand the concept of Scope a short synopsis for working with scope is given in the diagram below:

Visual Basic Variable Scope Description:

The scope of a variable determines what code has access to it.

Trying to access a scope outside of it's scope will cause a build error.

The scope of a variable is determined by where you declare it.

If you declare a variable within a procedure, it has Procedure Scope.
If you declare a variable within a class, but not within a procedure, it has Module Scope.

The lifetime of a variable is the period of time that the variable exists.

A variable declared within a procedure only exists while that procedure is executing.
A variable declared outside a procedure, but within a class, exists while the class exists.

Figure VB-47: Visual Basic Example of Module and Procedure Level Scope Variables

How to declare and use enumeration in Visual Basic

Often, when writing code, it is necessary to select an option, from a related group of options. For example, Customer payment terms could be Net 30 Days, Net 60 Days and Net 90 Days for different customers. If you assign a constant value such as '0' for 30 Days, '1' for 60 Days and '2' for Net 90 Days. In this case using Enumerations could simplify the programming process, and make your code more readable. For some examples on enumeration and the associated syntax, refer to the diagram below:

Visual Basic Syntax for Declaring an Enumeration:

	Enum EnumerationName [As Type]
		ConstantName1 [= value]
		ConstantName2 [= value]
	End Enum

Visual Basic Enumeration with Constant Values = 0, 1, 2

	Enum Terms
		Net30Days
		Net60Days
		Net90Days
	End Enum

Visual Basic Enumeration with Constant Values = 30, 60, 90

	Enum TermValues
		Net30Days = 30
		Net60Days = 60
		Net90Days = 90
	End Enum

Visual Basic Statements Containing Enumerations
Dim X As Integer = CInt( Terms.Net60Days ) Dim Y As Integer = CInt( TermValues.Net90Days ) Dim strTerm = "Terms: Net" + TermValues.Net30Days	' X is 1 ' Y is 90 ' Terms: Net30

Visual Basic Enumeration Summary:

An enumeration defines a set of related constants.

Each constant is known as the member of the enumeration.

By default, an enumeration uses the Integer Data Type.

The first constant is 0, the second is 1, and so on.

To use one of the other Integer Data types you can code the As clause.

Figure VB-48: Visual Basic Enumeration Description, Syntax and Examples

How to Declare and use Nullable Types in Visual Basic

Occasionally, in programming it is necessary to know if a variable has had a value assigned to it yet, as in the case of whether or not a user has supplied requested information. The Null value refers to the concept of Nothing Yet as opposed to 0, the amount left in my wallet after my wife has gone shopping. The syntax and examples of Nullable Types are given in the diagram below:

Visual Basic Syntax for Declaring a Null Value Type:

	Dim VariableName As Nullable (Of Type) [= expression]
	Dim VariableName? As Type [= expression]
	Dim VariableName As Type [= expression]

Visual Basic Nullable Type Properties:

Property	Description
HasValue	Returns True if the nullable type contains a value, false if no value.
Value	Returns the value of the Nullable type.

Visual Basic Nullable Types Examples:

	Dim NumberOfItems As Nullable (Of Integer)
	NumberOfItems = 20
	NumberOfItems = Nothing

	Dim InvoiceTotal? As Double

	Dim SomethingThere As Boolean = NumberOfItems.HasValue
	Dim ItemValue As Integer = NumberOfItems.Value

Visual Basic Nullable Type Summary: