VBScript Arrays

last modified February 19, 2025

In this article, we will learn how to work with arrays in VBScript. Arrays are used to store multiple values in a single variable. They are useful when you need to handle a collection of data. We will use WScript.Echo to output array values and run the scripts using cscript.

Simple Array Example

The first example demonstrates how to declare and use a simple array.

Dim fruits(2)
fruits(0) = "Apple"
fruits(1) = "Banana"
fruits(2) = "Cherry"

WScript.Echo "First fruit: " & fruits(0)

This example declares an array fruits with three elements and assigns values to them. The first element is displayed using WScript.Echo.

Dynamic Arrays

VBScript supports dynamic arrays whose size can be changed at runtime using ReDim.

Dim numbers()
ReDim numbers(2)

numbers(0) = 10
numbers(1) = 20
numbers(2) = 30

ReDim Preserve numbers(4)
numbers(3) = 40
numbers(4) = 50

WScript.Echo "Third number: " & numbers(2)

This example shows how to resize an array while preserving its existing values.

Multi-Dimensional Arrays

VBScript supports multi-dimensional arrays for storing data in a table-like structure.

Dim matrix(2, 2)
matrix(0, 0) = 1
matrix(0, 1) = 2
matrix(1, 0) = 3
matrix(1, 1) = 4

WScript.Echo "Value at (1,1): " & matrix(1, 1)

This example declares a 2D array and assigns values to its elements.

Array Length

You can determine the length of an array using the UBound function.

Dim colors(2)
colors(0) = "Red"
colors(1) = "Green"
colors(2) = "Blue"

WScript.Echo "Array length: " & (UBound(colors) + 1)

Dim colors(2) 

We declare an array with 3 elements (indices 0 to 2).

This example calculates and displays the length of the colors array.

Iterating Through an Array

You can use a For...Next loop to iterate through an array.

Dim animals(2)
animals(0) = "Cat"
animals(1) = "Dog"
animals(2) = "Bird"

For i = 0 To UBound(animals)
    WScript.Echo "Animal: " & animals(i)
Next

This example iterates through the animals array and displays each element.

Run the script with cscript:
cscript iterate_array.vbs

Output:
Animal: Cat
Animal: Dog
Animal: Bird

Sorting an Array

VBScript does not have a built-in array sorting function, but you can implement a simple sorting algorithm.

Dim nums(4)
nums(0) = 5
nums(1) = 3
nums(2) = 8
nums(3) = 1
nums(4) = 4

For i = 0 To UBound(nums) - 1
    For j = i + 1 To UBound(nums)
        If nums(i) > nums(j) Then
            temp = nums(i)
            nums(i) = nums(j)
            nums(j) = temp
        End If
    Next
Next

For i = 0 To UBound(nums)
    WScript.Echo "Number: " & nums(i)
Next

This example sorts the nums array in ascending order. The example uses a bubble sort algorithm, which is simple but inefficient.

The next example uses a more powerfule quick sort algorithm.

Dim nums(4)
nums(0) = 5
nums(1) = 3
nums(2) = 8
nums(3) = 1
nums(4) = 4

' Quick Sort Function
Sub QuickSort(arr, low, high)
    Dim pivotIndex
    If low < high Then
        pivotIndex = Partition(arr, low, high)
        QuickSort arr, low, pivotIndex - 1
        QuickSort arr, pivotIndex + 1, high
    End If
End Sub

' Partition Function
Function Partition(arr, low, high)
    Dim pivot, i, j, temp
    pivot = arr(high)
    i = low - 1

    For j = low To high - 1
        If arr(j) <= pivot Then
            i = i + 1
            ' Swap arr(i) and arr(j)
            temp = arr(i)
            arr(i) = arr(j)
            arr(j) = temp
        End If
    Next

    ' Swap arr(i + 1) and arr(high)
    temp = arr(i + 1)
    arr(i + 1) = arr(high)
    arr(high) = temp

    Partition = i + 1
End Function

' Call QuickSort on the nums array
QuickSort nums, 0, UBound(nums)

' Print the sorted numbers
For i = 0 To UBound(nums)
    WScript.Echo "Number: " & nums(i)
Next

The program sorts an array of integers with quick sort algorithm.

Passing Arrays to Functions

You can pass arrays to functions for processing.

Function PrintArray(arr)
    For i = 0 To UBound(arr)
        WScript.Echo "Element: " & arr(i)
    Next
End Function

Dim values(2)
values(0) = 100
values(1) = 200
values(2) = 300

PrintArray(values)

This example passes the values array to the PrintArray function, which displays each element.

Array of Objects

VBScript allows you to create arrays of objects.

Class Person
    Public Name
    Public Age
End Class

Dim people(1)
Set people(0) = New Person
people(0).Name = "Alice"
people(0).Age = 25

Set people(1) = New Person
people(1).Name = "Bob"
people(1).Age = 30

WScript.Echo "First person: " & people(0).Name

This example creates an array of Person objects and accesses their properties.

Filtering Arrays

You can filter arrays using loops and conditions.

Dim numbers(4)
numbers(0) = 10
numbers(1) = 15
numbers(2) = 20
numbers(3) = 25
numbers(4) = 30

For i = 0 To UBound(numbers)
    If numbers(i) > 20 Then
        WScript.Echo "Filtered number: " & numbers(i)
    End If
Next

This example filters and displays numbers greater than 20.

Combining Arrays

You can combine two arrays into one using loops.

Dim arr1(2)
arr1(0) = "A"
arr1(1) = "B"
arr1(2) = "C"

Dim arr2(2)
arr2(0) = "D"
arr2(1) = "E"
arr2(2) = "F"

Dim combined(5)

For i = 0 To UBound(arr1)
    combined(i) = arr1(i)
Next

For i = 0 To UBound(arr2)
    combined(UBound(arr1) + 1 + i) = arr2(i)
Next

For i = 0 To UBound(combined)
    WScript.Echo "Combined: " & combined(i)
Next

This example combines arr1 and arr2 into a single array.

In this article, we explored various aspects of working with arrays in VBScript. We covered simple arrays, dynamic arrays, multi-dimensional arrays, array length, iteration, sorting, passing arrays to functions, arrays of objects, filtering, and combining arrays. Arrays are a powerful feature in VBScript that allow you to manage collections of data efficiently.

Author

My name is Jan Bodnar, and I am a passionate programmer with extensive programming experience. I have been writing programming articles since 2007. To date, I have authored over 1,400 articles and 8 e-books. I possess more than ten years of experience in teaching programming.

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