VARIABLES

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Objectives
• Declare both a variable and a named constant

• Write an assignment statement

• Use the Convert class methods to convert data to an appropriate type

• Write arithmetic expressions

• Understand the scope of both a variable and a named constant

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Objectives (continued)
• Include internal documentation in the code

• Use the Option Strict and Option Explicit statements

• Use a TOE chart to code an application

• Use pseudocode and a flowchart to plan an object’s code

• Send focus to a control

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Objectives (continued)
• Explain the difference between syntax errors and logic errors

• Format an application’s numeric output

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Variables
• Computer memory locations where users can temporarily store data

• Must be assigned a data type by programmer

• Data type determines type of data variable can store

• Contents can change as application runs

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Selecting a Data Type for a Variable

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Selecting a Data Type for a Variable (continued)
• Integers  whole numbers
⁻ Integer, Long, Short
• Floating-point numbers  real numbers
⁻ Single, Double – use exponential notation
Example: 32000 = 3.2E4
⁻ Decimal  uses fixed decimal point
• Character Types
⁻ Char – one character
⁻ String – 0 to 2 billion characters

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Selecting a Name for a Variable
• Name should be descriptive

• Use three-letter prefix

• Use “m” for “module-scope” variables

• Punctuate using Pascal-case

⁻ Type m and 3 letter prefix using lowercase, then capitalize the first letter
of each word in the variable name

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Selecting a Name for a Variable (continued)

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Selecting a Name for a Variable (continued)

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Declaring a Variable

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Declaring a Variable (continued)
• accessibility variablename as [datatype = initialvalue]
• accessibility - sets scope of variable
⁻ Dim, Public, Private
• variablename = programmer chosen name
• datatype = data type of the variable
• Anything in brackets is optional
• initialvalue = default value at start of program
⁻ If no value specified numeric types = 0, character types = Nothing,
boolean = false

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Assigning Data to an Existing Variable
• assignment statement
⁻ strName = “Mary”
⁻ intAge = 35
“=“ sign is called assignment operator
• Literal constant – value does not change
⁻ Number 35 is numeric literal constant
⁻ “Mary” is a string literal constant
String - a group of characters enclosed in quotes

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Assigning Data to an Existing Variable (continued)

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Assigning Data to an Existing Variable (continued)
• Literal type characters force literal constants
to assume new data type

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Using the Convert Class
• Convert class creates object that is either a
number or a string by converting value to a
specified data type and returning result
strAge = Convert.ToString(intAge)

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Writing Arithmetic Expressions
• Precedence number indicates order in which
VB performs operation in an expression

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Writing Arithmetic Expressions (continued)
• Integer division operator (\)
⁻ Returns integer portion of division discarding remainder
8\3 results in answer of 2
• Modulus arithmetic operator (Mod)
⁻ Returns remainder portion of division discarding integer portion
7 Mod 3 results in an answer of 1
Often used to determine Leap years
Valid only with division of integer values

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How To…

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The Scope and Lifetime of a Variable
• Scope

⁻ Indicates where in the application’s code the variable can be used

• Lifetime

⁻ Indicates how long the variable remains in the computer’s internal

memory

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The Scope and Lifetime of a Variable (continued)
• Procedure Scope
⁻ Procedure-level variable
Variable declared within a procedure
Variable can only be used in procedure in which declared
• Module scope
⁻ Module-level variable
Variable declared in General Declarations section of the form
Variable can be used within all procedures in the form

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Procedure-level variables example

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Module-level variable example

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The Scope and Lifetime of a Variable (continued)
• Block scope

⁻ Block-level variable

Declared inside specific blocks of code

‐ If…Then…Else or For….Next

Can be used only inside the block in which declared

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Named Constants
• A memory location inside a computer whose
value cannot be changed while the application is
running

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Named Constants (continued)

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Internally Documenting the Program Code
• Internal documentation:

⁻ Term used by programmers for comments placed in code

⁻ Place an apostrophe (‘) before text you want treated as internal

documentation (comment)
VB ignores everything after apostrophe on line

⁻ Place comments at beginning of each procedure

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Internally Documenting the Program Code (continued)
• Include comments:
⁻ as necessary to explain various sections of code
⁻ at beginning of application explaining application’s:
Name
Purpose
Author
Date of creation or modification

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Internally Documenting the Program Code (continued)

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Option Explicit and Option Strict
• Option Explicit On
⁻ Tells computer to warn you if your code contains name of an undeclared
variable
⁻ Prevents unintentional declaration of variables which automatically are
of type Object
• Option Strict On
⁻ Tells computer not to perform any implicit type conversions which may
lead to loss of data
Implicit type conversions are automatic conversions from one data type to
another performed by the computer to fit data into an assigned memory
location

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Option Explicit and Option Strict (continued)

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Coding the SKATE-AWAY SALES Application
• Application calculates and displays total number of skateboards
ordered and total price of skateboards including 5% sales tax
• Planning steps:
⁻ Identify tasks the application needs to perform
⁻ Identify objects to which you will assign those tasks
⁻ Identify events required to trigger an object into performing its assigned
tasks
⁻ Design the user interface

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Testing and Debugging the Application
• Invalid data - data the application is not expecting
• Debugging:
⁻ Process of locating syntax and logic errors in the program
Syntax errors
‐ Typographical errors that violate rules governing valid syntax of the language
‐ Me.Colse() instead of Me.Close()
Logic errors
‐ Instruction that does not give expected results
‐ decAverage = decNum1 + decNum2 / 2

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Testing and Debugging the Application (continued)
• First test with valid data

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Testing and Debugging the Application (continued)
• Then test with invalid data

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Formatting Numeric Output
• Formatting:
⁻ Specifying number of decimal places and special characters to display in
a number
• Format string:
⁻ String used to specify format
Example: “Axx” must be enclosed in quotes
Format specifier - A
Alphabetic character that specifies format you wish to use
Precision specifier – xx
‐ xx is the sequence of digits desired

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Formatting Numeric Output (continued)

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Formatting Numeric Output (continued)

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Formatting Numeric Output (continued)

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Summary
• Variables and named constants are computer memory locations that
store data
• Variables are declared with a name and data type
• Scope refers to where a program can access a variable or named constant
⁻ Module scope variables can be accessed anywhere in the module
⁻ Procedure scope variables can only be accessed in the procedure in
which declared
⁻ Block scope variables can only be accessed within the block in which
declared

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Summary (continued)
• Lifetime refers to how long a variable remains in the computer’s
memory
• Literal constants are items of data
• Convert class contains methods to convert values to a specified data
type
• Integer division operator divides 2 integers and returns the result
discarding any remainder
• Modulus division operator divides 2 integers and returns the remainder

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Summary (continued)
• Option Explicit warns if undeclared variables are used
• Option Strict prevents implicit type conversions that may result in loss
of data
• Use pseudocode (short phrases) or flowcharts (standardized symbols) to
plan the application
• Test application with both valid and invalid data
• Format numeric output to display special characters

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