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VBA Word: Store and retrieve info in a collection

I am using Word VBA and want to store some data in a Collection using two arguments: a Key and some data associated with that key. Here is the code:
Sub Test()
' Test storing and retrieving some data.
' Declarations
Dim ACollection As New Collection
Dim KeyData As Variant
Dim ItemData As Variant

' Make up some data: a key and something related to that key
KeyData = "5"
ItemData = "Test"

ACollection.Add Key:=KeyData, Item:=ItemData 'Add items to the collection

' Now try to retrieve that information
Dim MyObject As Variant
For Each MyObject In ACollection
ItemData = MyObject ' half of the information stored is retrieved
Key Data = ?? ' how do I get the Key used in storing the information?
Next
End Sub

Of course my actual code is a bit more complex. The above just shows the essence of the problem: to retrieve both the data stored and the key used for storing it.

Thanks for any help
JRA in Priddis, Alberta

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Robert Schutt

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Faustulus

You need to set up a class for your collection. Find the whole process and its code very nicely described at this link.

DrTribos

I think you can achieve this with a scripting dictionary...

Sub FillColourDictionary(ByVal dict As Scripting.Dictionary, bNumberKey As Boolean)
Dim strColours As String
Dim arrColourLines() As String
Dim c As Integer
Dim ColourItem() As String
strColours = "wdColorAqua;13421619/wdColorAutomatic;-16777216/wdColorBlack;0/wdColorBlue;16711680/wdColorBlueGray;10053222/" & _
            "wdColorBrightGreen;65280/wdColorBrown;13209/wdColorDarkBlue;8388608/wdColorDarkGreen;13056/wdColorDarkRed;128/" & _
            "wdColorDarkTeal;6697728/wdColorDarkYellow;32896/wdColorGold;52479/wdColorGray05;15987699/wdColorGray10;15132390/" & _
            "wdColorGray125;14737632/wdColorGray15;14277081/wdColorGray20;13421772/wdColorGray25;12632256/wdColorGray30;11776947/" & _
            "wdColorGray35;10921638/wdColorGray375;10526880/wdColorGray40;10066329/wdColorGray45;9211020/wdColorGray50;8421504/" & _
            "wdColorGray55;7566195/wdColorGray60;6710886/wdColorGray625;6316128/wdColorGray65;5855577/wdColorGray70;5000268/" & _
            "wdColorGray75;4210752/wdColorGray80;3355443/wdColorGray85;2500134/wdColorGray875;2105376/wdColorGray90;1644825/" & _
            "wdColorGray95;789516/wdColorGreen;32768/wdColorIndigo;10040115/wdColorLavender;16751052/wdColorLightBlue;16737843/" & _
            "wdColorLightGreen;13434828/wdColorLightOrange;39423/wdColorLightTurquoise;16777164/wdColorLightYellow;10092543/" & _
            "wdColorLime;52377/wdColorOliveGreen;13107/wdColorOrange;26367/wdColorPaleBlue;16764057/wdColorPink;16711935/" & _
            "wdColorPlum;6697881/wdColorRed;255/wdColorRose;13408767/wdColorSeaGreen;6723891/wdColorSkyBlue;16763904/" & _
            "wdColorTan;10079487/wdColorTeal;8421376/wdColorTurquoise;16776960/wdColorViolet;8388736/wdColorWhite;16777215/wdColorYellow;65535"
            
            
arrColourLines = Split(strColours, "/")
For c = 0 To UBound(arrColourLines)
    ColourItem = Split(arrColourLines(c), ";")
    If bNumberKey Then
        dict.Add ColourItem(1), ColourItem(0)
        ''debug.print ColourItem(1), dict.item(ColourItem(1))
    Else
        dict.Add ColourItem(0), ColourItem(1)
        ''debug.print ColourItem(0), dict.item(ColourItem(0))
    End If
Next

End Sub

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Rgonzo might remember a portion of this code from an earlier question...

DrTribos

Ooops sorry I just noticed this is basically what robert_schutt is suggesting as well....

in a nutshell you can use the key of the dictionary to access the variable... it's really cool.

HTH

JohnRobinAllen

ASKER

The solution was more complicated than I had thought, so I bumped the point count up to the max. However, the solution is already posted. Comments on that to come when I accept the proposed solution in less than a minute.

JohnRobinAllen

ASKER

This first solution proposed is the easiest and best one proposed. However one must use the revised line 4 to use late binding. My programs go out to neophytes and I cannot ask them to add the reference to Scripting Runtime. The revised line 4 obviates the necessity of the more complex solution.
The subsequent comments posted are most interesting, but the first solution works perfectly with no additional coding.
Many thanks! One more nail is now hit on the head.
Hurrah for EE and for magi like Mr. Schutt

JRA in Priddis, Alberta, Canada