Knowledge Base

FIX: Referencing Data Object Gives Error: Object not an Array

Article ID: 100367

Article Last Modified on 10/28/2003

Microsoft Visual Basic 3.0 Professional Edition
Microsoft Visual Basic 3.0 Professional Edition

This article was previously published under Q100367

SYMPTOMS

An "Object not an Array" error results when you reference a field of a dynaset, table, or snapshot object in a form or module that does not contain a Set statement for that dynaset, table, or snapshot. The error occurs when Visual Basic attempts to compile your program.

CAUSE

This error is caused by a parsing problem in the Visual Basic programming environment. The Visual Basic parser does not recognize the object type because there is no Set statement in the same form or module.

WORKAROUND

Add a dummy Sub procedure to each form or module, and use a Set statement that refers to the global database / table / dynaset in a meaningful way (for example, Set myds = db.CreateDynaset(...) not set myDs = myDs). Give the Sub procedure a name like 'AAAAA_Fix_Parser' so it becomes the first code parsed in that form or module. Make sure the dynaset set in the dummy Sub procedure is the exact same dynaset that is causing the problem. When adding more than one dummy Sub procedure to a project, give each Sub procedure a different name (AAAAA1, AAAAA2, and so on) to avoid name collisions that could complicate your existing problem. For example, use the following dummy procedure if MyDs is the dynaset causing the problem:

   Sub AAAAAA_Fix_Parser
      Set MyDs = MyDB.CreateDynaset("...")
   End Sub

You never need to execute the code in the Sub procedure or even call the Sub procedure. Once you add the Sub procedure, the parser sees the Set statement(s) before it tries to parse any other code, so it does not have trouble with the global objects. After adding the Sub procedure, you do not have to tweak the code every time you reload the project; you can do it once and save it.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in Microsoft Visual Basic version 3.0 for Windows. This bug was corrected in Microsoft Visual Basic version 4.0 for Windows.

MORE INFORMATION

Steps to Reproduce Problem

Start Visual Basic or from the File menu, choose New Project (ALT, F, N) if Visual Basic is already running. Form1 is created by default.
From the File menu, choose New Module (ALT, F, M). Module1 is created.
Add a text box (Text1) to Form1.
Add the following code to the General section of Module1:
```
   Global MyDs As Dynaset
						
```

Add the following code to Module1:

   Sub main ()
      Dim MyDB As Database
      Dim SQLStmt As String
      Const DB_READONLY = 4   ' Set constant.
      Set MyDB = OpenDatabase("BIBLIO.MDB")   ' Open database.
      ' Set text for the SQL statement.
      SQLStmt = "SELECT * FROM Publishers WHERE State = 'NY'"
      ' Create the new Dynaset.
      Set MyDs = MyDB.CreateDynaset(SQLStmt, DB_READONLY)
      form1.Show
    End Sub

Add the following code to the Form_Load event procedure of Form1:

   Sub Form_Load ()
      Text1.Text = MyDs("state")
   End Sub

From the Options menu, choose Project (ALT, O, P). The Projects Options dialog is displayed.
From the Project Options dialog, set the Start Up Form to Sub Main and choose OK.
From the Run menu, choose start (ALT, R, S) or press F5.

The following line of code returns the error "Object not an Array":

   Text1.text = MyDs("state").

Additional query words: buglist3.00 fixlist4.00 3.00

Keywords: kbbug kbfix KB100367