Reference a variable using a string

Question

I have a few variables called: _2sVal, _3sVal, _4sVal, etc I want to change each of their values through a loop. Like:

For i = 1 To 10
    'set the value
Next

I've tried putting them in a dictionary like:

Dim varDict As New Dictionary(Of String, Integer)
varDict.Add("2sVal", _2sVal)
varDict.Add("3sVal", _3sVal)
varDict.Add("4sVal", _4sVal)

I can retrieve the value using

MsgBox(varDict(i.ToString & "sVal"))

But when I try to change it like

varDict(i.ToString & "sVal") = 5

It doesn't do anything. No errors or exceptions either, just the value stays unchanged

I have edited your title. Please see, "Should questions include “tags” in their titles?", where the consensus is "no, they should not". — John Saunders
– John Saunders, Commented May 4, 2015 at 21:10
"doesn't seem to be working" is not a clear problem description. In what way does it seem to not be working? How did you determine it was not working, and how did you expect it to work? — John Saunders
– John Saunders, Commented May 4, 2015 at 21:10
Well I can retrieve the value using MsgBox(varDict(i.ToString & "sVal")) But when I try to change it like varDict(i.ToString & "sVal") = 5 It doesn't do anything. No errors or exceptions either, just the value stays unchanged. — Aleksa Kojadinovic
– Aleksa Kojadinovic, Commented May 4, 2015 at 21:12
Please click the "edit" button and update your question with this information. That sort of information belongs in the question, not in the comments. — John Saunders
– John Saunders, Commented May 4, 2015 at 21:16

Nizam · Accepted Answer · 2015-05-04 22:11:22Z

1

When you are using

varDict.Add("4sVal", _4sVal)

You are not putting the _4sVal variable inside the dictionary, but its value.

Then, changing the dictionary will not change the _4sVal, since there is no reference of it inside the dictionary.

What I mean is

varDict("4sVal") = 5

will change the value of dictionary but not the variable _4sVal itself.

I think the correct to do is define that variables as Properties, defined like:

Property _4sVal As Integer
    Get
        Return varDict("4sVal")
    End Get
    Set(value As Integer)
        varDict("4sVal") = value
    End Set
End Property

This way you will not have to change anything in the rest of your code. It will be transparent.

edited May 4, 2015 at 22:11

answered May 4, 2015 at 21:51

Nizam

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