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Q161232: HOWTO: Use Spaces in Enumerated Types

Article: Q161232
Product(s): Microsoft Visual Basic for Windows
Version(s): WINDOWS:5.0,6.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbGrpDSVB
Last Modified: 11-JAN-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual Basic Learning Edition for Windows, version 6.0 
- Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows, version 6.0 
- Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows, version 6.0 
- Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows, version 5.0 
- Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows, version 5.0 
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SUMMARY
=======

Beginning with version 5.0, Visual Basic supports Enumerated Types. Enumerations
provide a convenient way to work with sets of related constants and to associate
constant values with identifiers. The identifier may be defined as either a
normal identifier or a more "friendly" identifier that can contain spaces.

NOTE: Other identifiers, such as variable names and procedure names, can not
contain spaces.

MORE INFORMATION
================

1. Start Microsoft Visual Basic version 5.0. Create a new Standard EXE. Form1 is
  created by default.

2. Add a CommandButton, Command1, to Form 1.

3. Add the following code to Form1:

        Enum Keys1
            TabKey = 12
            EnterKey = 13
            SpaceBar = 32
        End Enum

        Enum Keys2
            [Tab Key] = 12
            [Enter Key] = 13
            [Space Bar] = 32
        End Enum

        Private Sub Command1_Click()
            Dim i As Long
            i = Keys1.EnterKey
            MsgBox i
            i = Keys2.[Space Bar]
            MsgBox i
        End Sub

4. Run the project. Note that the brackets are required or an error will occur.
  Though the brackets will not be displayed when Visual Basic displays a drop
  list of the members of the enumeration. Such as, when you type a period after
  "Keys2", Visual Basic displays a drop list showing the members of the Keys2
  enumeration without the brackets:

  Enter Key
  Space Bar
  Tab Key

  When you select one of the members, Visual Basic fills in the brackets for
  you.

  This code will generate a Compile Error on the second "Test2" line. This is
  due to the compiler expecting an end-of-statement after the word "Space."

REFERENCES
==========

Microsoft Visual Basic 5.0 Books Online
"Using Enumerations to Work with Sets of Constants"

Microsoft Visual Basic Online Help
"Enum Statement"

Additional query words: kbVBp500 kbVBp600 kbVBp kbdsd kbDSupport kbCompiler kbVBA

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Keywords          : kbGrpDSVB 
Technology        : kbVBSearch kbAudDeveloper kbZNotKeyword6 kbZNotKeyword2 kbVB500Search kbVB600Search kbVBA500 kbVBA600 kbVB500 kbVB600
Version           : WINDOWS:5.0,6.0
Issue type        : kbhowto

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