|
|
|
Beginner Programming Tips and Tricks
Each page contains a helpful programming tip and exercises which encourage
beginners to use what they've learned in a different situation.
|
Removing An Array Element
Suppose you have an array of 10 Integers, and you want to remove one of those
elements from your array. How do you do it? The code snippet below shows
a subroutine which does the job. Take a look at it, then we'll talk through it.
Dim MyArray(9) As Integer
'Remove element from the array
Sub RemoveElement(Index As Integer)
Dim I As Integer
For I = Index To UBound(MyArray) - 1
MyArray(I) = MyArray(I + 1)
Next I
ReDim Preserve MyArray(UBound(MyArray) - 1)
End Sub
|
What is happening here? Simple. Index is the variable indicating
which element you want to remove from the array. The For-Next loop walks through
the array, starting at that point, and going to the end of the array, replacing
each array element with the following array element. This has the effect of
removing the unwanted element (overwriting it with another element) and sliding everything
else up one index in the array.
Notice that the For-Next loop stops one element short of the end of the array. There is
a good reason for this; if we went all the way to the end, including the last element, the following line:
MyArray(I) = MyArray(I + 1)
|
would have produced an error, since (I + 1) would be an invalid array index.
Of course, when you are done, your array has an unneeded index at the end, so
you can use the "ReDim" command to knock out that last array element.
Is that the quickest way to do it? No. There is a quicker way, but for this
second method to work, you have to have an array in which the order of the
elements doesn't matter. Take a look at the code, and you'll see what I mean.
Dim MyArray(9) As Integer
'Remove element from the array
Sub RemoveElement(Index As Integer)
MyArray(Index) = MyArray(UBound(MyArray))
ReDim Preserve MyArray(UBound(MyArray) - 1)
End Sub
|
Do you see what is happening here? Notice there's no longer a For-Next loop. All
I'm doing is snagging the very last array element and putting it in place of
the array element I want to remove. Then I use the ReDim command to get rid of the
unneeded array element at the end.
Other Scenarios
- Write a subroutine that will always delete the first array element
- Write a subroutine that will always delete the last array element
- Write a subroutine that will delete 2 array elements, starting at Index
- Write a subroutine that will delete N array elements, starting at Index
"Beginner Programming Tips and Tricks" is written by Douglas Twitchell, and hosted at The Problem Site.
Contents copyright 2005 by Douglas Twitchell. Contents of this page may not be reproduced without permission of the author. For information on using
this site in a classroom situation, please visit the Teachers page.
More programming information and other tips can be found at Virtu Software's Ask Doug site.
Want To Try Something Completely Different?
Site Features
| |
|
Search For More Educational Resources
Find more educational, problem solving, and puzzle resources using the Google safe-search below.
|
|
|
