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Multi Dimensional Arrays
The arrays you have seen so far are only one column arrays, 1 Dimensional arrays as they are known. A 1-D array holds one column of data:
array(0) = "0"
array(1) = "1"
array(2) = "2"
array(3) = "3"
Visually, it looks like this:
So we have four rows with one value in each column.
Another type of array is a 2 Dimensional array. This holds data in a grid pattern, rather like a spreadsheet. They look like this:
We still have 4 rows, but now we have 4 columns. The values in the image above represent the array positions. Before, we only had to worry about positions 0 to 3. We could then place a value at that position. Now, though, we can have values at position such as 0, 0, and 2, 1.
To set up a 2-D array in Visual Basic .NET you just add a second number between the round brackets:
Dim grid(3, 3) As Integer
Again, arrays start counting at 0, so the above declarations means set up an array with 4 rows and 4 columns.
To store values in the grid, you need both numbers between the round brackets:
grid(0, 0) = 1
This means fill row 0, column 0 with a value of 1. You could type out all your positions and values like this: (The left number between the round brackets is always the row number; the right number is always the columns.)
grid(0, 0) = 1
grid(1, 0) = 2
grid(2, 0) = 3
grid(3, 0) = 4
grid(0, 1) = 5
grid(1, 1) = 6
grid(2, 1) = 7
grid(3, 1) = 8
grid(0, 2) = 9
grid(1, 2) = 10
grid(2, 2) = 11
grid(2, 2) = 12
grid(0, 3) = 13
grid(1, 3) = 14
grid(2, 3) = 15
grid(3, 3) = 16
Typically, though, 2-D arrays are filled using a double for loop. The following code just places the numbers 1 to 16 in the same positions as in the example above:
Dim grid(3, 3) As Integer
Dim row As Integer
Dim col As Integer
Dim counter As Integer = 1
For row = 0 To 3
For col = 0 To 3
grid(row, col) = counter
counter = counter + 1
Next
Next
Notice how the outer loop goes from row = 0 to 3 and the inner loop goes from col = 0 to 3. This allows you to fill all the rows and columns in the array.
To display all the above values in a listbox, you could have this code:
Dim temp as String = ""
For row = 0 To 3
For col = 0 To 3
temp = temp & "-" & grid(row, col).ToString()
Next
ListBox1.Items.Add(temp)
temp = ""
Next
Again, we're using a double for loop to access the array.
2-D arrays are tricky to get the hang of, but they do come in useful from time to time.
Move on to String Manipulation ->
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