Basic Macro – Copy array of custom type

users
#1

Hi!
As we know by now, in LibreOffice Basic we can not copy an array directly,
we will only get a new name for the same array. It's like assigning two
array pointers to the same array. The obvious way to copy an array is to do
it element by element in a loop, but there is a workaround. Here's an
example that works:

*Option ExplicitSub Test1 Dim A(9) As Long Dim i As Integer'
Initialise a: For i=0 To 9 A(i)=i Next i' Copy A to B:
Dim B(9) As Long: B=A ReDim Preserve B(9)' Do some changes to B
without affecting A: B(7)=A(3) B(3)=A(7)*
*' Display the results:*

* Dim Message As String, Tab As String, NL As String, Spc As String
Tab=Chr(9): NL=Chr(13): Spc=" " Message="i" & Tab & "A(i)" & Tab &
"B(i)" & NL For i=0 To 9 Message=Message & i & Tab & Spc & A(i) &
Tab & Spc & B(i) & NL Next i MsgBox MessageEnd Sub*

So, the trick in this case is to first assign B to A, then running the
ReDim statement. After that we have two separate arrays.

However, I want to do this with a custom type, like so:

*Private Type NumberType Value As Long Status As BooleanEnd Type*

*Sub Test2 Dim A(9) As NumberType Dim i As Integer' Initialise
a. For i=0 To 9 A(i).Value=i A(i).Status=True Next
i' Copy A to B Dim B(9) As NumberType: B=A ' ”Basic runtime error:
Object required.” ReDim Preserve B(9)End Sub*

This will throw a runtime error at *B=A* at third line from the end: ”Basic
runtime error: Object required”. What am I missing? How to do this properly?

Kind regards

Johnny Rosenberg

#2

Hi!
As we know by now, in LibreOffice Basic we can not copy an array directly,
we will only get a new name for the same array. It's like assigning two
array pointers to the same array. The obvious way to copy an array is to do
it element by element in a loop, but there is a workaround. Here's an
example that works:

*Option ExplicitSub Test1 Dim A(9) As Long Dim i As Integer'
Initialise a: For i=0 To 9 A(i)=i Next i' Copy A to B:
Dim B(9) As Long: B=A ReDim Preserve B(9)' Do some changes to B
without affecting A: B(7)=A(3) B(3)=A(7)*
*' Display the results:*

* Dim Message As String, Tab As String, NL As String, Spc As String
Tab=Chr(9): NL=Chr(13): Spc=" " Message="i" & Tab & "A(i)" & Tab &
"B(i)" & NL For i=0 To 9 Message=Message & i & Tab & Spc & A(i) &
Tab & Spc & B(i) & NL Next i MsgBox MessageEnd Sub*

So, the trick in this case is to first assign B to A, then running the
ReDim statement. After that we have two separate arrays.

However, I want to do this with a custom type, like so:

*Private Type NumberType Value As Long Status As BooleanEnd
Type*

*Sub Test2 Dim A(9) As NumberType Dim i As Integer' Initialise
a. For i=0 To 9 A(i).Value=i A(i).Status=True Next
i' Copy A to B Dim B(9) As NumberType: B=A ' ”Basic runtime error:
Object required.” ReDim Preserve B(9)End Sub*

This will throw a runtime error at *B=A* at third line from the end:
”Basic runtime error: Object required”. What am I missing? How to do this
properly?

Kind regards

Johnny Rosenberg

OK, to get rid of the error the keyword ”Let” was required. So finally I
know what that's for…
This code doesn't give me any errors, but the results are not right:

*Option Explicit*

*Private Type NumberType Value As Long Status As BooleanEnd Type*

*Private Sub Test2 Randomize Dim A(9) As NumberType Dim i As
Integer' Initialise a. For i=0 To 9 A(i).Value=i
A(i).Status=True Next i' Copy A to B Dim B(9) As New NumberType:
Let B=A ReDim Preserve B(9)' Do some changes to B without affecting
B(3).Status=False B(7).Status=False Dim Message As String, Tab As
String, NL As String: Tab=Chr(9): NL=Chr(13) Dim Spc1 As String, Spc2 As
String: Spc1=" ": Spc2=" " Message="i" & Tab & "A(i)" & Tab & Tab & Tab
& "B(i)" & NL For i=0 To 9 Message=Message & i & Tab & Spc2 &
_ A(i).Value & Spc1 & _ A(i).Status & Tab &
Tab & Spc2 & _ B(i).Value & Spc1 & _
B(i).Status & NL Next i MsgBox MessageEnd Sub*

It seems like ReDim Preserve has no effect in this case. A and B are still
pointers to the same array, as it seems.
Suggestions? Except assigning all the values in loops, because I already
know that…

Kind regards

Johnny Rosenberg