How can I reference an object by a string variable? I feel like there has at be a way to do this other than than using execute and losing Options Explicit
Example (where "Something is the command / method in question":
Dim strObj
Dim D1 : Set D1 = CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")
strObj = "D1"
Something(strObj).add "1" , "Car"
msgbox Something(strObj).Item("1")
Thanks!
Only functions (and subs) can be referenced by Set functionReference = GetRef("myFunction") but not objects.
When you want to have a string reference, you have to create one with each object you would want to refer to. You can use a dictionary for that:
Dim foo, bar
Dim StringObjectReference : Set StringObjectReference = CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")
' Lets create some objects
Set foo = CreateObject("System.Collections.ArrayList")
Set bar = CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")
' Register the objects for referral, now we can reference them by string!
StringObjectReference.Add "foo", foo
StringObjectReference.Add "bar", bar
' Manipulate the objects through their string reference
StringObjectReference("foo").Add "BMW"
StringObjectReference("foo").Add "Chrysler"
StringObjectReference("foo").Add "Audi"
StringObjectReference("foo").Sort
StringObjectReference("bar").Add "Bikes", array("Honda", "Thriumph")
StringObjectReference("bar").Add "Quads", array("Honda", "Kawasaki", "BMW")
' Retrieve values from the objects
' real:
msgbox "My Cars: " & join(foo.ToArray(), ", ")
msgbox "My Bikes: " & join(bar("Bikes"), ", ")
msgbox "My Quads: " & join(bar("Quads"), ", ")
' From reference
msgbox "My Cars: " & join(StringObjectReference("foo").ToArray(), ", ")
msgbox "My Bikes: " & join(StringObjectReference("bar").Item("Bikes"), ", ")
' Shorthand notation (without item)
msgbox "My Quads: " & join(StringObjectReference("bar")("Quads"), ", ")
In the instant you use the content of a string variable to reference some method/function/object in your code, you "lose" the Option Explicit benefits. You can put anything you want inside the variable and it will not be tested until code is executed.
But you can use Option Explicit with Execute. This code
Dim D1
Set D1 = CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")
Execute "Option Explicit : D1.Add ""1"",""car"""
Execute "Option Explicit : D2 = D1.Item(""1"")"
WScript.Echo D1.Item("1")
will complain for D2 not been defined. But it will do it at runtime. Comment this line and you will see the Add method working as expected.
