Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: Determining the Upper Bounds of an Array.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated September 2, 2023)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
If you program macros, you already know that you can define arrays of variables that are used to store similar data. For instance, the array sClassNames() could be used to hold the names of individuals in your school class. Consider the following, which defines the array:
Dim sClassNames(29) As String
This particular code specifies that the array can hold 30 string values, using the subscripts 0 through 29.
At some point you may have a subroutine or function that needs to know how many elements have been defined for an array. One built-in VBA function that comes in handy for determining this is UBound. This function returns a value that indicates the upper bound (the largest subscript) that can be used with the array. For instance, consider the following usage:
iClassSize = UBound(sClassnames)
When you run this code, iClassSize is set to the value 29. Why? Because 29 is the largest subscript that can be used in the sClassNames() array—it represents the upper bound for the array.
If your arrays have more than one dimension, you can add another argument to the UBound function to specify for which dimension you want the upper bound:
iHighSide = UBound(cPayGrade, 2)
This example sets iHighSide equal to the upper bound for the second dimension of the cPayGrade() array.
Note:
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (1436) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Determining the Upper Bounds of an Array.
Comprehensive VBA Guide Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is the language used for writing macros in all Office programs. This complete guide shows both professionals and novices how to master VBA in order to customize the entire Office suite for their needs. Check out Mastering VBA for Office 2010 today!
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Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here:
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