"Shared" classes in VB6...

[MattWoberts]

Hi,

I need to implement a class in VB6 that is contains "static" variables. Now, in VB.NET, these would be "shared":

Public class class1
public shared X as integer
End Class

With this code I can access Class1.X without instantiating a class1:
class1.X = 2

Can anyone please tell me if/how I can do the same in VB6?

Thanks!

 

[SleepDepD]

It's not very encapsulated, but I've written classes that used global variables declared in a module--that might be the only work around for this in VB. Maybe a global array/collection to handle multiple instantiations of the class?

 

[strongm]

To be honest, I'm not convinced that .NETs public shared variables are a great idea. But it is possible to get very, very similar in VB6 if you really, really want to...

 

[chiph]

VB6 doesn't really have the concept of shared/static class members. The closest you could come would be to use a global variable in a .bas module.

strongm -
Shared variables have their uses, but sometimes they get overused. Part of the usual "shiney new toy" scenario. Remember Active Documents in VB4?

Chip H.


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[strongm]

Here's how to do it in VB6

1. Start a new ActiveX Exe or DLL
2. Add the following code to the class:

Option Explicit

Public Wombat As Long

Set the instancing of the class to 5 - GlobalMultiuse

Ok, we're done with our class.

Now start a new project, and add a reference to the class we've just created. And a command button.

In my example the Class is called Class1, and lives in an ActiveX DLL called GlobalDLL. The following code works much like .NET's shared variables in a particular scope:

Option Explicit

Private Sub Command1_Click()
GlobalDLL.Wombat = 4
Debug.Print GlobalDLL.Wombat
End Sub

 

[MattWoberts]

Thanks strongm!

Thats a good tip...I had looked on the web and all I had found was the module workaround as chip said.

I'm coming from a c++ background - I find shared variables really useful in an OO world. One final thing - will setting the instancing to multiuse upset COM in any way? I will be referencing my "GlobalDLL" from COM dll's....

Thanks again!