How do I fix a "ReadOnly" in vb.net when using arrays - vb.net

Question

It gives me an error message when i try to assign the Words array values from the text file. It tells me that words is"ReadOnly"
This is located in the sub "LoadWords"
Module Module1
Const MaxNoWords As Integer = 10000
Const MaxTries As Integer = 6
Sub Main()
Menu()
End Sub
Sub Menu()
Dim words(MaxNoWords) As String
Dim MenuChoice As Char
Console.WriteLine("Hangman v2")
Do
MenuChoice = GetMenuChoice(MenuChoice)
If MenuChoice = "a" Then
LoadWords(words(MaxNoWords))
ElseIf MenuChoice = "b" Then
PlayHangman()
End If
Loop Until MenuChoice = "x"
Console.ReadLine()
End Sub
Function GetMenuChoice(MenuChoice As Char)
Console.WriteLine(" A - Load Words" & vbNewLine & " B - Play" & vbNewLine & " X - Quit")
MenuChoice = Console.ReadLine
Return MenuChoice
End Function
Sub LoadWords(ByRef words As String)
Dim index As Integer = 0
Console.WriteLine("Loading Words")
FileOpen(1, "U:\A Level Computing\words.txt", OpenMode.Input)
Do
words(index) = LineInput(1)
Loop Until EOF(1)
FileClose(1)
Console.ReadLine()
End Sub
Sub PlayHangman()
Console.WriteLine("Playing Hangman DO NOT Disturb")
Console.ReadLine()
End Sub
End Module

Answer 1

You can change your code like this ...
dim mod_words(MaxNoWords) as string
Sub Main()
Menu()
End Sub
Sub Menu()
' removed line
Dim MenuChoice As Char
and later
Do
mod_words(index) = LineInput(1)
Loop Until EOF(1)
Further I would suggest to use FreeFile (get free file handle) into a var, so you are not fixed to "1".
And somehow I do not understand, why yo try to add only at the last item in your array ...
Could you please explain, what exactly you try to achieve?

Answer 2

It looks like you want to load each word from the file (each on its own line) into the array called words.
If so, simply change:
Sub LoadWords(ByRef words As String)
To:
Sub LoadWords(ByRef words() As String)
Notice the addition of parenthesis, which indicates an Array, not a single string, is being passed.
*Also, ByRef is not necessary here, you could change to ByVal.

Answer 3

Explanations and comments in line.
Imports System.IO
Module Module1
Const MaxTries As Integer = 6
'Moved words to Module level so it can be seen from
'all method in the Module
'Changed from array to List(Of String)
'so we don't have to worry about the size
Private words As New List(Of String)
Public Sub Main()
Menu()
End Sub
Sub Menu()
Console.WriteLine("Hangman v2")
Dim MenuChoice As Char
Do
MenuChoice = GetMenuChoice()
'Also check if list is empty - you don't want to keep loading words
If MenuChoice = "a" AndAlso Not words.Any Then
LoadWords()
'Check if the list has word, can't play without words
ElseIf MenuChoice = "b" AndAlso words.Any Then
PlayHangman()
End If
Loop Until MenuChoice = "x"
End Sub
Function GetMenuChoice() As Char
Console.WriteLine(" A - Load Words" & vbNewLine & " B - Play" & vbNewLine & " X - Quit")
Dim MenuChoice = CChar(Console.ReadLine.ToLower)
Return MenuChoice
End Function
Sub LoadWords()
Console.WriteLine("Loading Words")
Dim path = "U:\A Level Computing\words.txt"
'Use the .net IO methods instead of the old vb methods
words = File.ReadAllLines(path).ToList
End Sub
Sub PlayHangman()
Console.WriteLine("Playing Hangman DO NOT Disturb")
Console.ReadLine()
End Sub
End Module