Using variables for referencing objects in vb.net (Visual Studio 2008)

Question

I'm having a problem when using variables in object names.

I have a Public class which is called "Tank" In that class, there is a public property called "direction" of an integer type.

I keep getting the error: "Tank is a type and cannot be used as an expression" What I'm doing wrong here ?

Public Class mainroutines()

' Create Instances of tank  

Private Tank1 As New Tank()
Private Tank2 As New Tank()

'Loop trough objects and set the property value

dim i as integer
For i = 1 to 2
Tank(i).direction = 1
next i

End class

Jason Evans · Accepted Answer · 2011-09-27 14:24:58Z

2

You don't have an array of Tanks:

Public Class mainroutines()

' Create Instances of tank  

Private Tank1 As New Tank()
Private Tank2 As New Tank()

'Loop trough objects and set the property value
Dim tanks() As Tank

tanks(0) = Tank1
tanks(1) = Tank2

For i As Integer = 1 To 2
   tanks(i).direction = 1
next

End class

If you're using Visual Studio 2008 then you could use:

Private Tank1 As New Tank() With { .Direction = 1}
Private Tank2 As New Tank() With { .Direction = 1}

So you don't need the For loop at all.

edited Sep 27, 2011 at 14:24

user142162

answered Feb 25, 2010 at 21:30

Jason Evans

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1 Comment

davidthijs Over a year ago

Thanks for the answers The loop was just ment as an example. I'm writing a game and I need a tank for player 1 and one for player 2. player is a variable of the integer type and is 1 or 2 depending on the player which is in control In my code I often need to change the direction, or the x,y coordinates of the tank and I like to reference to the tank as Tank(player).direction or Tank(player).X += 5 or Tank(player).livesleft -= 1 I'll have to test your answers

jball · Accepted Answer · 2010-02-25 23:26:39Z

1

Well, Tank(i) is not equivalent to Tank1. You would need to make a list of tanks, add your instances to it, and access them that way.

Public Class mainroutines() 

' Create Instances of tank '  

Dim allTanks As List(Of Tank) = New List(Of Tank) 
allTanks.Add(New Tank())
allTanks.Add(New Tank())

'Loop through objects and set the property value '

dim i as integer 
For i = 1 to 2 
allTanks(i).direction = 1 
next i

edited Feb 25, 2010 at 23:26

answered Feb 25, 2010 at 21:28

jball

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Comments

davidthijs · Accepted Answer · 2010-02-25 22:49:30Z

0

@ Jball

It needed a small correction and your example worked just fine ! Exactly what I needed !

Dim alltanks As List(Of Tank) = New List(Of Tank)

Thanks a lot for your help !

answered Feb 25, 2010 at 22:49

davidthijs

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