Resizing an array at runtime in VB.NET

Question

In my Windows Forms application at runtime I will be resizing an array each time I add an element. So first I must resize to the size + 1, and then add a member to this index. How do I do this?

Answer 1

You could use the ReDim statement, but this really isn't your best option. If your array will be changing sizes often, especially as it sounds like you're just appending, you should probably use a generic List(Of T) or similar collection type.

You can use it just like you use an array, with the addition that adding an item to the end is as easy as MyList.Add(item)

To use a generic list, add Imports System.Collections.Generics to the top of the file. Then, you would declare a new integer list like this:

Dim MyList As New List(Of Integer)()

or a string list like this:

Dim MyList As New List(Of String)()

You should get the idea.

Answer 2

The suggested ReDim's need the Preserve keyword for this scenario.

ReDim Preserve MyArray(n)

Answer 3

Using a generic list is (as suggested) the best idea. If you however want to change the size of an Array, you can use Array.Resize(ByRef arr, newSize).

ReDim is not a good (pretty bad) idea (VB specific legacy, extremely slow).

Answer 4

You can also make your own collection class. A good programming exercise for new programmers.

Public Class MyList
Private Items() As String
Private No As Integer = 0
Public Sub Add(ByVal NewItem As String)

    ''Create a temporary new string array

    Dim CopyString(No) As String

    ''Copy values from Global Variable Items() to new CopyString array

    For i As Integer = 0 To No - 1
        CopyString(i) = Items(i)
    Next

    ''Add new value - NewItem - to CopyString

    CopyString(No) = NewItem

    ''Increment No to No + 1

    No += 1

    ''Copy CopyString to Items

    Items = CopyString

    'Discard CopyString

    CopyString = Nothing

End Sub
Public Sub Show(ByVal index As Integer)
    MsgBox(Items(index))
End Sub
End Class

''Now create a form with a TextBox name - txt, Button1 and Button2

Public Class Form1

''Declare txts as a new MyList Class

Private txts As New MyList

Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click

    ''Add text to txts which is a MyList Class

    txts.Add(txt.Text)
    txt.Text = ""

End Sub

Private Sub Button2_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button2.Click

    ''Display value at a specific index

    txts.Show(Convert.ToInt16(txt.Text))
    txt.Text = ""

End Sub
End Class