Instantiating a dynamic array after erase - vba

Question

I am trying to instantiate a dynamic array after erasing it.
I use an array to store shapes that I create so that I dont need to loop every shape on the page. Since there are many already. Every new page I erase the array but then run into a "subscript out of range" error when I try to add the first shape to the array.
Dim SeqShapes() As Shape
For PageCount = 0 to activeDocument.Pages.Count
Erase SeqShapes
For ShapesNeeded = 0 to ShapesCount
Set NewShape = ActivePage.Drop(SomeShape, 20, 20)
SeqShapes(UBound(SeqShapes)) = NewShape
Next
'Some more code
Next
This returns an error because there are no entries in the array.
I don't want to use a fixed array because there is no way to know how many shapes will be created beforehand.
I have tried adding a dummy record but can't seem to figure out the syntax:
Dim SeqShapes() As Shape
Dim DummyShape As Shape
For PageCount = 0 to activeDocument.Pages.Count
Erase SeqShapes
SeqShapes(0) = DummyShape
For ShapesNeeded = 0 to ShapesCount
Set NewShape = ActivePage.Drop(SomeShape, 20, 20)
SeqShapes(UBound(SeqShapes)) = NewShape
Next
'Some more code
Next
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Use a collection rather than an array
Dim SeqShapes As Collection
For PageCount = 0 to activeDocument.Pages.Count
Set SeqShapes = Nothing ' Easiest way to clear it is to recreate it.
Set SeqShapes = New Collection
Dim ShapesNeeded
Dim newShape As Shape
For ShapesNeeded = 0 To 3
Set newShape = ActivePage.Drop(SomeShape, 20, 20)
SeqShapes.Add newShape ' Add the shape into Collection
Next ShapesNeeded
...
Next PageCount
To loop over all shapes in the collection:
' Using ForEach (you have to declare you running variable as Variant)
Dim sh As Variant
For Each sh In SeqShapes
Debug.Print sh.Name
Next sh
' Using for
Dim i As Long
For i = 1 To SeqShapes.Count
Debug.Print SeqShapes(i).Name
Next i