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MS Office Forum / Word / Programming / December 2006To Greg Maxey
Hi I much enjoy your postings and papers. I have two questions for you: 1) When I taught myself QuickBASIC many (!) years ago, I got used to the concept of 'reserved words' ie words that did something and could not also be set as variable names. There were a number of books explaining all the functions of those reserved words. If you looked up 'Bloogs' and it wasn't in the list then you could use it as you variable name. I can never find a similar list of the 'reserved words' used in VBA. Will you (or someone) point me at such a reference (preferably on-line)? Can I assume that for example 'oStory' is an arbitrary variable name while 'StoryType' is not? 2 I often try to print out your papers for future reference (eg 'Installing Macros from Listings'). The right hand margin of the page always gets trimmed off. I have this problem with most web pages and no-one has been successful in telling me how to overcome it and why *some* websites seem to avoid this. TIA all. aalaan, Thanks for your comments. I am afraid I don't have an answer to either of your questions. I don't have any formal training in VBA, so what I know is just what I have picked up along the way. A list of reserved works is not an arrow in my quiver. As for printing the tips pages, I just clicked on the "print this tip" button on the bottom of a couple of the pages and they printed fine. I don't know if it is your printer setting or perhaps an internet setting. You might try one of the IE groups or perhaps an office group. > Hi > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > TIA all. Thanks for prompt reply. Is oStory some arbitrarily chosen variable word? And re printing I have just been selecting CTRL-P. I'll try selecting the print link. But why should they be different? > aalaan, > [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] >> >> TIA all. aalaan, For me "oStory" is arbitrarily choosen. I suppose a purist would, and justifiably, cringe at some of the variable names I use. They work for me. When I am corrected enough times I will usually change. I really have no clue why you are having problems with printing the tips pages. > Thanks for prompt reply. Is oStory some arbitrarily chosen variable word? > And re printing I have just been selecting CTRL-P. I'll try selecting the [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] > >> > >> TIA all. Hi Greg Just tried again and got the same result using the 'print these tips' link. This has happened on a variety of machines and on Netscape as well as IE. It's also happened with all printers. I cannot see what is wrong. Surely this problem must be common? Someone suggested changing to Firefox but if that was the only way out surely millions of IE users would be jumping up and down. Anyone else with a suggestion or to point me at a suitable newsgroup? > aalaan, > [quoted text clipped - 58 lines] >> >> >> >> TIA all. > Hi Greg > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > jumping up and down. Anyone else with a suggestion or to point me at a > suitable newsgroup? I suspect there is a mismatch between what IE thinks is the paper size of your printer and that the printer is actually loaded with - in other words IE and the printer driver think you have Letter, while in fact you are loaded with A4. Check the settings and fix them.  SignatureRegards Jonathan West - Word MVP www.intelligentdocuments.co.uk Please reply to the newsgroup Keep your VBA code safe, sign the ClassicVB petition www.classicvb.org I've checked the printer driver and that's OK. I'll try to get into IE and see what's up. >> Hi Greg >> [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > IE and the printer driver think you have Letter, while in fact you are > loaded with A4. Check the settings and fix them. That didn't work. > I've checked the printer driver and that's OK. I'll try to get into IE and > see what's up. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >> words IE and the printer driver think you have Letter, while in fact you >> are loaded with A4. Check the settings and fix them. Actually I think this is probably a very common problem that has AFAIK only been fixed in IE7. One problem is that when IE6 lays out the page, it adjusts the page layout according to the page size (A4, Letter etc.) but takes no notice of any margins you may have defined in IE File|Page Setup. So, if for example, you prefer to leave a 2.5cm (c. 1in) margin on the left so you can holepunch the page to put in a ringbinder, IE does the indent, but does not alter the text width. Text and graphics are then truncated on the right hand side. So you end up setting the margins to 0 and letting IE change them to whatever it (or the printer driver) thinks the minimum margins should be, and that usually works (but I suspect that in extreme cases, even that may not work). At least, that's what happens here. I guess most people never have a reason to change their Page Setup settings which may be why the problem was not regarded as serious enough to fix in IE6. You may be able to get around it by using specialised features in your printer driver (e.g. size reduction/centering) if that's the sort of problem you need to overcome. But maybe your problem has another origin altogether. Peter Jamieson > That didn't work. > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >>> words IE and the printer driver think you have Letter, while in fact you >>> are loaded with A4. Check the settings and fix them. > Actually I think this is probably a very common problem that has > AFAIK only been fixed in IE7. Correction -- while it may be common in IE, it's never been a problem in FireFox. HTH! ;-) SignatureWorking without a .NET? http://classicvb.org/ Thanks for this. I do indeed set a fairly big left margin and will try the effect of reducing that. > Actually I think this is probably a very common problem that has AFAIK > only been fixed in IE7. One problem is that when IE6 lays out the page, [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] >>>> words IE and the printer driver think you have Letter, while in fact >>>> you are loaded with A4. Check the settings and fix them. That did not work. But it appears I have now found the solution, though *why* it is a solution escapes me. I simply change page setup to 'letter' although in the printer I am using A4. Surely this is a bug and workaround? The system arrogantly assumes everyone in the World is using the US 'letter' although A4 is pretty well internationally standard. > Thanks for this. I do indeed set a fairly big left margin and will try the > effect of reducing that. [quoted text clipped - 38 lines] >>>>> other words IE and the printer driver think you have Letter, while in >>>>> fact you are loaded with A4. Check the settings and fix them. > aalaan, > > For me "oStory" is arbitrarily choosen. I suppose a purist would, and > justifiably, cringe at some of the variable names I use. They work for > me. When I am corrected enough times I will usually change. A common approach to using prefixes is to make the prefix indicate the type of the variable you are using. So iCount would indicate an integer, dStart would be a date, sName would be a string, oStory an object of some kind. Some people get very sophisticated about this, for instance adding p for parameters, so piCount would be an integer parameter passed to a function, whereas iCount would be a local variable declared within the function. Similarly g can be defined as global, so giCount would be an integer variable declared using the Public keyword. The m prefix is often used to declare module-level variables, so miCount would be an integer declared using the Private keyword. The letter "a" can indicate an array, so maiCount would be an array of integers declared using the Private keyword! If you want a more in-depth description of this, do a web search on Hungarian Notation. Note that the naming convention is entirely arbitrary. If you are writing code for your own use, you can use all, some or none of what I have describe - you do whatever works for making your code clear for you. There is no single "right" way to do this. Any arbitrary system will be helpful so long as it is consistently applied. Professional programmers working as a team usually have some kind of common standard agreed or imposed, to make it easier for team members to understand each others' code. SignatureRegards Jonathan West - Word MVP www.intelligentdocuments.co.uk Please reply to the newsgroup Keep your VBA code safe, sign the ClassicVB petition www.classicvb.org Thanks. I'm getting the hang of it, and I presume there is a list of 'reserved words' available somewhere (and surely not just by accessing the object browser)? >> aalaan, >> [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > a team usually have some kind of common standard agreed or imposed, to > make it easier for team members to understand each others' code. > Thanks. I'm getting the hang of it, and I presume there is a list of > 'reserved words' available somewhere (and surely not just by accessing the > object browser)? That's what I was saying before - there isn't, because the list of reserved words depends on what object libraries you happen to be using this week. SignatureRegards Jonathan West - Word MVP www.intelligentdocuments.co.uk Please reply to the newsgroup Keep your VBA code safe, sign the ClassicVB petition www.classicvb.org Thanks for bearing with me. The vb6 (learning edition) that I'm using is from a CD where surely there is a 'standard' object library. How can it change each week? >> Thanks. I'm getting the hang of it, and I presume there is a list of >> 'reserved words' available somewhere (and surely not just by accessing [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > reserved > words depends on what object libraries you happen to be using this week. > Thanks for bearing with me. The vb6 (learning edition) that I'm using > is from a CD where surely there is a 'standard' object library. Have you ever pressed the F2 key? > How can it change each week? It changes in reaction to your changes in the Project-References dialog, which (for sake of completeness) are saved with each project. SignatureWorking without a .NET? http://classicvb.org/ OK. So I can then allocate any variable name that isn't revealed by that? >> Thanks for bearing with me. The vb6 (learning edition) that I'm using >> is from a CD where surely there is a 'standard' object library. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > It changes in reaction to your changes in the Project-References dialog, > which (for sake of completeness) are saved with each project. Yes. SignatureRegards Jonathan West - Word MVP www.intelligentdocuments.co.uk Please reply to the newsgroup Keep your VBA code safe, sign the ClassicVB petition www.classicvb.org > OK. So I can then allocate any variable name that isn't revealed by that? > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >> It changes in reaction to your changes in the Project-References dialog, >> which (for sake of completeness) are saved with each project. > Hi > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > that for example 'oStory' is an arbitrary variable name while 'StoryType' > is not? There is no such list, because every time you load up an external library, you get different set of defined words. Sometimes the same word is used for different purposes in different libraries. For instance, a Range object is a quite different beast in Excel from the one you see in Word. VBA in Word automatically loads the Word object model and VBA in Excel automatically loads the Excel object model. (You can see this by going to Tools, References in the VBA editor for each application.) But even so, there are some general rules that you can follow with naming conventions for variables which will leave you relatively safe. The first and most obvious one you have already alluded to - if you apply a prefix to your variable names then you are unlikely to trip up over a name in an object library, because they tend not to be prefixed. SignatureRegards Jonathan West - Word MVP www.intelligentdocuments.co.uk Please reply to the newsgroup Keep your VBA code safe, sign the ClassicVB petition www.classicvb.org > I can never find a similar list of the 'reserved > words' used in VBA. Will you (or someone) point me at such a > reference (preferably on-line)? TextPad is a great little text editor, that supports custom language definitions for syntax highlighting. Here's a page with a bunch of said definitions, including numerous variations on VB (though, not specifically VBA). TextPad Syntax Definition Files U-Z http://www.textpad.com/add-ons/synu2z.html > Can I assume that for example > 'oStory' is an arbitrary variable name while 'StoryType' is not? Why would you assume that? > 2 I often try to print out your papers for future reference (eg > 'Installing Macros from Listings'). The right hand margin of the page > always gets trimmed off. I have this problem with most web pages and > no-one has been successful in telling me how to overcome it and why > *some* websites seem to avoid this. Switch to Firefox. Really. Life's way too short for such nonsense. SignatureWorking without a .NET? http://classicvb.org/ Thanks. That TextPad thing is right over my head at present! >> I can never find a similar list of the 'reserved >> words' used in VBA. Will you (or someone) point me at such a [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Why would you assume that? But is it? > Thanks. That TextPad thing is right over my head at present! Okay then, just examine the SYN file within this: http://www.textpad.com/add-ons/files/syntax/visual_basic.zip That provides a fairly comprehensive list of the *language* keywords. As Jonathan alluded, the object model contains numerous other "iffy" words that you are free to recycle, but at your own peril. >>> Can I assume that for example >>> 'oStory' is an arbitrary variable name while 'StoryType' is not? >> >> Why would you assume that? > > But is it? Not sure what you're asking? Neither is a reserved word in VB(A). StoryType may indeed be used for something by something, but for the answer to that the only way to really know is to pull up the Object Browser and do a search. SignatureWorking without a .NET? http://classicvb.org/ >> Thanks. That TextPad thing is right over my head at present! > [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > do > a search. Few people make a distinction between words used in object names and words that form part of the definition of the core VBA language. For the purpose of aalaan's question it doesn't matter whether a word is an object name or an original language keyword, since he needs to avoid re-using it in either case. And yes, StoryType is indeed a property of a Range object in the Word object model. SignatureRegards Jonathan West - Word MVP www.intelligentdocuments.co.uk Please reply to the newsgroup Keep your VBA code safe, sign the ClassicVB petition www.classicvb.org Hi Jonathan -- >> That provides a fairly comprehensive list of the *language* >> keywords. As Jonathan alluded, the object model contains numerous [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > an object name or an original language keyword, since he needs to > avoid re-using it in either case. It's interesting, really. I know it's not a common practice, but it is one that's good to know about. Now that you force me to think about it, I can recall numerous times when I've over-ridden even VBA language functions with my own. Dangerous as hell, but potentially useful at times. > And yes, StoryType is indeed a property of a Range object in the Word > object model. Ah, sounded like it. I certainly would've had to query the ObjectBrowser to be sure, though. Thanks... Karl SignatureWorking without a .NET? http://classicvb.org/ Thanks again. I can't understand why the other poster couldn't understand my question. Seemed straightforward enough to me, and these answers from Jonathan have put me on the right track. >>> Thanks. That TextPad thing is right over my head at present! >> [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > And yes, StoryType is indeed a property of a Range object in the Word > object model. > Thanks again. I can't understand why the other poster couldn't > understand my question. Seemed straightforward enough to me, and > these answers from Jonathan have put me on the right track. I understood your question, but I wonder if you did. <g> You referenced QuickBasic, which had a *very* rigid system of reserved keywords. VB(A) doesn't. You can override nearly all of them, as you wish. You may get burned in the process, but that's the consequence of power. There are keywords in VB proper that cannot be overridden, but they can probably be counted on a few hands. The rest are fair game. I did tell you how to determine whether a given word was "in use" by other components within your project sphere, too, btw. SignatureWorking without a .NET? http://classicvb.org/ OK getting this a bit better. The key is your contrast of QB with VBA and yes, the former was channelling my thinking. With regard to the last part of your post, would you please repeat that as I can't find it? Also, suppose you are deliberately going to avoid overriding *any* keyword. Where will you then find the list? >> Thanks again. I can't understand why the other poster couldn't >> understand my question. Seemed straightforward enough to me, and [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > I did tell you how to determine whether a given word was "in use" by other > components within your project sphere, too, btw. > OK getting this a bit better. The key is your contrast of QB with VBA Just to muddy the waters a bit more. I have been assuming you were working with VBA all along, since that's the charter of this group, but in your other recent post you reference VB6. VBA is part of VB6, but there is more. It's important to be *very* specific in discussions like this, to avoid folks like me introducing even more uncertainty into your world. > and yes, the former was channelling my thinking. With regard to the > last part of your post, would you please repeat that as I can't find > it? > > Also, suppose you are deliberately going to avoid overriding *any* > keyword. Where will you then find the list? Okay, the answer to both of these questions is the "Object Browser". You can get to it via either the View menu in the IDE, or by pressing the F2 key. Within the object browser, you'll see a dropdown that defaults to "<All Libraries>". Searches automatically include every library you reference (Project-References). You can examine individual libraries by selecting them from that top dropdown. SignatureWorking without a .NET? http://classicvb.org/ >>> Thanks again. I can't understand why the other poster couldn't >>> understand my question. Seemed straightforward enough to me, and [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >> Working without a .NET? >> http://classicvb.org/ Thanks. Working with vb6 *and* vba (and these seem to be mostly the same?) >> OK getting this a bit better. The key is your contrast of QB with VBA > [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] >>> Working without a .NET? >>> http://classicvb.org/ > Thanks. Working with vb6 *and* vba (and these seem to be mostly the > same?) Mostly yeah. I typically say VBA is a subset of VB6, but in this forum them's considered "shootin' words." <g> SignatureWorking without a .NET? http://classicvb.org/ Karl (BTW sorry to keep quoting your name Greg, but the thread lives on...). I tried the fawcette archives and got a 'you're not a member- go away' type message! >> Thanks. Working with vb6 *and* vba (and these seem to be mostly the >> same?) > > Mostly yeah. I typically say VBA is a subset of VB6, but in this forum > them's considered "shootin' words." <g> > Karl (BTW sorry to keep quoting your name Greg, but the thread lives > on...). NP. > I tried the fawcette archives and got a 'you're not a member- > go away' type message! Oh those... I forget that some of them are "protected"... Ever hear of BugMeNot? http://www.bugmenot.com/ (If you were using FireFox, I'd recommend their extension -- login at all kinds of places with a simple right-click!) SignatureWorking without a .NET? http://classicvb.org/ I think what is needed is a text explaining how to convert your thinking from the procedural and rigid framework of say QuickBASIC to this different way of thinking. > OK getting this a bit better. The key is your contrast of QB with VBA and > yes, the former was channelling my thinking. With regard to the last part [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] >> other >> components within your project sphere, too, btw. > I think what is needed is a text explaining how to convert your > thinking from the procedural and rigid framework of say QuickBASIC to > this different way of thinking. You might try browsing the archives (BasicPro, VBPJ) here: http://www.fawcette.com/archives/magazines/vsm/ In particular, go back to the early-90s. For example, the "First Impressions of Visual Basic" article in the June/July 1991 issue. SignatureWorking without a .NET? http://classicvb.org/ |
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