VBScript in a Nutshell, 2nd Edition

Name

Public Statement

Syntax

Public varname[([subscripts])] _
   varname[([subscripts])]

varname

Use: Required

Data Type: Any

The name of the variable, which must follow VBScript naming conventions (see the second bullet in “Rules at a Glance”).

subscripts

Use: Optional

Data Type: Integer or Long

Denotes varname as an array and optionally specifies the dimensions and number of elements of the array.

Description

Used in a script or a Class block to declare a public variable and allocate the relevant storage space in memory. A Public variable has global scope—that is, it can be used by all procedures in a script. When used in a class construct, it is visible outside the class project.

Rules at a Glance

• The behavior of a Public variable depends on where it’s declared, as the following table shows:

Variable declared in...	Scope
Any procedure, Function or Property statement	Illegal; generates a syntax error; use the Dim statement instead.
Global code	Variable is available throughout the script.
Class block declarations section	Variable is available as a property of the class to all code within the script.

• You can override standard variable naming conventions by placing your variable name in brackets. This allows you to use reserved words or illegal characters in variable names. For example:

  Public [me]
  Public [1Var]
  Public [2-Var]

• varname follows standard VB naming conventions. It must begin with an alphabetic character, can’t contain embedded periods or spaces, can’t be the same as a VBScript reserved word, ...