VB.NET Module - Can I force the use of <Module_Name>.Public_Member_Name when accessing pub. Members?

Question

I have a situation where I have several VB.NET Modules in the same Logical-Module of a large application.

I would like the update function of each module to be public, but I would like users to be forced to qualify the function call with the module name.

ModuleName.Update()

instead of

Update()

Is this possible?

Thanks.

Answer 1

Yes, it is possible, if you are willing to wrap the module within a namespace of the same name as the module:

    Namespace ModuleName
        Module ModuleName
        ...
        End Module
    End Namespace

Answer 2

Using modules is usually a poor design, because its methods become visible directly in the name space.

Consider replacing them with Classes. Put Shared on all the members:

Class ClassName
    Public Shared Property SomeData As Integer

    Public Shared Sub Update()
    End Sub
End Class

Update would be referenced as:

ClassName.Update()

Make it impossible to instantiate, by having a Private instance constructor (is NOT Shared):

Private Sub New()
End Sub

Any needed class instantiation can be done like this:

Shared Sub New()
    ... code that runs once - the first time any member of class is accessed ...
End Sub