Is it Possible to return multiple values?

I think I remember this being possible.

For example..

Sub returnValues(string1 as String, int1 as Integer, bol1 as Boolean)
Return string1, int1, bol1
End Sub

??

First thing to mention is that Subs don't return anything. You have to use "Function"

Functions can only return 1 thing. Normally, when you wanted to return multiple values you would do so in an array and return the array. You would then have to know the indexes of the pieces you wanted from the array.

The way I do this is to use a return argument class. I create a class with all the properties I expect to get back from the given operation.

For example, when I perform a database operation to retrieve some data, I create a class that contains properties like this:

- Boolean "Success"
- DataSet "ResultDataSet"
- String "Message"
- Exception "Exception"

My functions return an object of that class. I set the properties of the class to reflect what happened: did it succeed; here's the data; if it failed, here's the exception that was thrown by the internal code; etc.

This allows you to create functions with strongly typed return data, and makes it very easy to write the followup code for a function call because all the pieces of the return value are named and typed in a way that is clear.

Dim objResult As MyFunctionReturnArgs
objResult = MyFunction()
If objResult.Success Then
    'Function succeeded, do something with the returned data
Else
    'Function failed, display objResult.Message
    ' or handle the objResult.Exception
End If

Peter
------------------------------------------------------
Work smarter, not harder.

Or an alternative to using a class, is to create a structure. A structure is very similar to a class... a little more limited (in fact very limited), but ideal for simply creating value types.

ie:

Private Structure Peanut
   'members
   Public yourString as String
   Public yourInteger as Integer
   Public yourBoolean as Boolean
End Structure


Sub returnValues(yourPeanut as Peanut)
   'your code here
   Return yourPeanut
End Sub

Opps! That should be:

Function returnValues()as yourPeanut
'your code here
   Return yourPeanut
End Sub

or

Function returnValues(byVal etc etc)as yourPeanut
   'your code here
   Return yourPeanut
End Sub

!!!!!

In case the next question is "What's the difference between a Structure and a Class?"...

A structure is a complex data type like a class, however the class allows methods and property accessors. Typically a class would have private class fields providing the internal data storage and public property accessors that provide access to those internal values. In the scenario of return args, you would not likely have a class that had methods. One benefit to using a class is that you could make certain parts of the return args readonly. This way you could create the return arg object with a constructor that accepts values to be stored internally, but the caller of the function would get a return arg object with readonly properties. Just an added layer of data protection if necessary.

Peter
------------------------------------------------------
Work smarter, not harder.

Thanks!
I kinda forgot about structs as an alternative...the question arised because I seem to remember being able to return multiple values in vb6 from a sub and did not want to create classes or arrays.Oh and, dont worry about me in OOP, I know Java hehe, thanks.