VBScript in a Nutshell

Name

Initialize Event

Syntax

Private Sub object_Initialize( )

Description

Use the Initialize event of a class defined with the Class...End Class construct to prepare the object or class for use, setting any references to subobjects or assigning default values to properties and values to class-level variables.

Rules at a Glance

• The Initialize event is triggered automatically when a class is first instantiated by the Set statement. For example, in the following code, the Set statement generates the Initialize event:

  Dim MyObject As MyClass
  'some code
  ...
  'initialize event called here
  Set MyObject = New MyClass
  StrName = MyObject.CustName

• The Initialize event is only private and doesn’t take any arguments.

Programming Tips & Gotchas

• While it’s possible to explicitly call the Initialize event from within the object at any stage after the object has been created, it isn’t recommended, because the code in the Initialize event should be written to be “run once” code.

• Use the Initialize event of a class module to generate references to dependent objects. For example:

  Option Explicit
  
  Class CMyClass
  Private moSubObject
  
  Private Sub Class_Initialize( )
  
     Set moSubObject = New mySubObject
      If glbInstance = 0 Then
          Set glbMainObj = Me
          glbInstance = 1
      End If
  
  End Sub
  
  End Class

• The Initialize event is triggered only once, when a new object is created. When an object variable is assigned a reference to an existing object, the Initialize event isn’t invoked. For example, in the following code fragment, the Initialize ...