`Dim` Statement

Declares variables and allocates memory for them.

Syntax

[ @Shared ] { Dim | Var } declarator [ , declarator ]…

Parts

@Shared

Optional modifier specifies that each variable can have a small scope but keeps its value during an application's full run-time.

Dim

Mandatory unless you use Var.

Mandatory if you use the directive @Option Dim. See @Option Directive for more information.

Var

Mandatory unless you use Dim

Mandatory if you use the directive @Option Var.

declarator

Mandatory one or more declarations with a comma between each.

Declarator

name [ ( [ dimensions ] ) ] [ As type | In unit ] [ = initializer ]

name: Mandatory name for a variable
dimensions: Optional one or more integer expressions with a comma between each
type: Optional data type
unit: Optional unit of measure
initializer: Optional expression having a data type compatible with type or unit.

Instructions

Setting an initial value

TODO

Declaring multiple variables

Arrays

See Arrays.

Default types and values

If you do not give a data type, the compiler selects a data type. If you supply an initializer, the variable's data type comes from the data type of the initializer. See the table that follows for the rules.

If you specify	The compiler sees it as
`Dim a = 42`	`Dim a As Int64 = 42`
`Dim b = 3.14159`	`Dim b As Real64 = 3.14159`
`Dim c = 2.54cm`	`Dim c In centimeters = 2.54cm`
`Dim d = "Hello"`	`Dim d As String = "Hello"`

If you do not supply a data type or initializer, the name of the variable selects the data type.

If you specify

Dim a%, b!, c$, #d

The compiler sees it as

Dim a% As Int32 = 0
Dim b! As Real64 = 0.0
Dim c$ As String = ""
'??? Dim #d As Object = #Null

Shared lifetime

All variables declared at module level have shared lifetime if @Shared is specified or not.

Examples