VBScript Array Functions
last modified April 4, 2025
Arrays in VBScript are powerful data structures that store multiple values. VBScript provides several built-in functions to work with arrays efficiently. This tutorial covers essential array functions with practical examples. You'll learn how to create, manipulate, and process arrays in your scripts.
VBScript Array Functions Overview
VBScript offers various functions to handle arrays. The key functions include
Array() for creation, UBound() and LBound()
for bounds checking, Split() for string conversion, and
Join() for array concatenation. These functions simplify array
manipulation tasks.
Arrays can be fixed-size or dynamic, and VBScript handles both types well. Understanding these functions is crucial for effective data processing. We'll explore each function with practical examples in the following sections.
Creating Arrays with Array() Function
The Array() function creates and initializes an array in one step.
It takes comma-separated values and returns a variant containing an array. This
is the simplest way to create an array with predefined values.
' Create and initialize an array
Dim colors
colors = Array("Red", "Green", "Blue", "Yellow")
' Display array elements
For i = LBound(colors) To UBound(colors)
WScript.Echo "Color " & i & ": " & colors(i)
Next
This example demonstrates array creation and iteration. The Array()
function creates a zero-based array. We use LBound() and
UBound() to get the lower and upper bounds for the loop.
Determining Array Size with UBound() and LBound()
UBound() returns the highest available index, while LBound()
returns the lowest (usually 0). These functions are essential for safe array
traversal. They help prevent "Subscript out of range" errors.
Dim numbers(5) numbers(0) = 10 numbers(1) = 20 numbers(2) = 30 numbers(3) = 40 numbers(4) = 50 numbers(5) = 60 WScript.Echo "Array lower bound: " & LBound(numbers) WScript.Echo "Array upper bound: " & UBound(numbers) WScript.Echo "Array size: " & (UBound(numbers) - LBound(numbers) + 1)
This example shows how to determine array bounds and calculate size. The array is explicitly dimensioned with 6 elements (0-5). The size calculation adds 1 because array indices are inclusive.
Splitting Strings into Arrays with Split()
The Split() function divides a string into an array based on a
delimiter. It's useful for parsing CSV data or log files. The delimiter can be
any character or string, with space as the default.
Dim sentence, words
sentence = "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog"
' Split by space (default delimiter)
words = Split(sentence)
' Display each word
For Each word In words
WScript.Echo word
Next
' Split with custom delimiter
Dim csvData, fields
csvData = "John,Doe,35,New York"
fields = Split(csvData, ",")
WScript.Echo "First name: " & fields(0)
WScript.Echo "Last name: " & fields(1)
This example demonstrates both default and custom delimiter splitting. The first part splits a sentence into words, while the second parses CSV data. Notice how array indexing starts at 0.
Joining Arrays into Strings with Join()
The Join() function combines array elements into a single string.
It's the inverse of Split(). You can specify a delimiter to separate
elements. The default delimiter is a space.
Dim fruits(3), fruitString, csvString fruits(0) = "Apple" fruits(1) = "Banana" fruits(2) = "Orange" fruits(3) = "Mango" ' Join with default delimiter (space) fruitString = Join(fruits) WScript.Echo "Fruits: " & fruitString ' Join with custom delimiter csvString = Join(fruits, ",") WScript.Echo "CSV: " & csvString
This example shows array joining with different delimiters. The first join uses spaces, creating a readable list. The second uses commas, creating CSV-formatted output. Join() is perfect for generating delimited strings from arrays.
Filtering Arrays with Filter() Function
The Filter() function returns a subset of an array based on search
criteria. It can perform case-sensitive or insensitive searches. The function
returns a new array containing matching elements.
Dim names(4), filteredNames
names(0) = "John"
names(1) = "Jane"
names(2) = "Bob"
names(3) = "Alice"
names(4) = "Joan"
' Filter names starting with "Jo"
filteredNames = Filter(names, "Jo")
WScript.Echo "Names starting with 'Jo':"
For Each name In filteredNames
WScript.Echo name
Next
' Case-insensitive filter
filteredNames = Filter(names, "jo", True, vbTextCompare)
WScript.Echo "Case-insensitive matches for 'jo':"
For Each name In filteredNames
WScript.Echo name
Next
This example demonstrates basic and advanced filtering. The first filter finds
exact matches, while the second performs case-insensitive matching. The
vbTextCompare constant enables case-insensitive comparison.
Source
VBScript Array Functions Documentation
In this article, we have explored essential VBScript array functions, from creation to manipulation. These functions provide powerful tools for handling collections of data. With practical examples, we've shown how to process arrays effectively. Mastering these functions will significantly enhance your scripting capabilities.
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