How do I append an initially empty string array in VBA? - excel

Question

I am trying to add a variable number of items to a string array.
My code is in a worksheet change function:
Dim StartNums(0 To 2) As String
doneColor = RGB(175, 175, 175)
cmt = FRg.Comment.Text
rowLen = InStr(1, cmt, vbLf)
If rowLen = 0 Then
rowLen = Len(cmt)
End If
numChunks = rowLen / 32
numRows = Len(cmt) / rowLen
' For i = 1 To 12 'FRg.Comment.Shape.TextFrame.Characters.Count
' With FRg.Comment.Shape.TextFrame.Characters(i, 1)
' If .Font.Strikethrough = True Then
' .Font.Color = vbGreen
' End If
' End With
' Next i
MsgBox ("About to fill StartNums, nothing should be in it yet")
For j = 0 To numChunks - 1
MsgBox ("going to add stuff for chunk " & j)
If Not UBound(StartNums) = 2 Then
' MsgBox ("resizing an empty array")
' ReDim Preserve StartNums(3) As Variant
' Else
'MsgBox ("resizing a non-empty array")
ReDim Preserve StartNums(UBound(StartNums) + 3) As String
End If
StartNums(UBound(StartNums) - 2) = (j * 32) + 5 + (0 * 9)
StartNums(UBound(StartNums) - 1) = (j * 32) + 5 + (1 * 9)
StartNums(UBound(StartNums) - 0) = (j * 32) + 5 + (2 * 9)
Next j
Now whenever I go into the worksheet, the ReDim line has a Compile Error Array already dimensioned. I'm aware it's already dimensioned, which is why I'm ReDim-ing it.
How do I add 3 more spaces in an array?

Answer 1

When you initially Dim it, you can't give it the size if you plan on changing the size later:
so instead of
Dim StartNums(0 To 2) As String
You would use
Dim StartNums() As String
and then on the next line
ReDim StartNums(0 To 2)
note, you can also use this, as it's assumed to be 0 based by default.
ReDim StartNums(2)
That will accomplish the same thing, but then you can later use Redim Preserve to change the size of it.