Forcing the unloading forms from memory - vba

I am writing a solution in Excel that uses a number of linked data entry forms. To move between he sequence of forms, the user can click a "Previous" or "Next button. The current form is unloaded and the new one loaded and opened.
Sub NextForm(curForm As MSForms.UserForm, strFormName As String)
Dim intCurPos As Integer
Dim strNewForm As String
Dim newForm As Object
intCurPos = WorksheetFunction.Match(strFormName, Range("SYS.formlist"), 0)
If intCurPos = WorksheetFunction.CountA(Range("SYS.formlist")) Then
Debug.Print "No"
Else
Unload curForm
strNewForm = WorksheetFunction.Index(Range("SYS.formlist"), intCurPos + 1)
Set newForm = VBA.UserForms.Add(strNewForm)
newForm.Show
End Sub
The code as is allows new forms to be added into the sequence at any time through the editing of the range "SYS.formlist".
One problem I have noticed is that even after the current form is unloaded, it still remains in the VBA.Userforms collection. I would presume this is because this code has been called from that userform.
Is there a way to force the removal of that form from the VBA.Userforms collection? What is occuring is that if the user moves forward and then back, two copies of the form appear in memory and and excel throws exceptions about two modal forms being open.
Cheers,
Nick

The answer was (sadly) quite simple and inspired by bugtussle's answer.
The subroutine was passing the curForm variable as an MSForms.Userform object, but the form is held in memory as its own object type. (As an example, you can access a form through Set form = new formName)
So by changing the curForm paramater type to Variant, it will pass the actual object through rather than a copy of the object. Unload was only unloading the copy, not the actual object.
Thanks bugtussle!
So, corrected code is:
Sub NextForm(curForm As Variant, strFormName As String)
Dim intCurPos As Integer
Dim strNewForm As String
Dim newForm As Object
intCurPos = WorksheetFunction.Match(strFormName, Range("SYS.formlist"), 0)
If intCurPos = WorksheetFunction.CountA(Range("SYS.formlist")) Then
Debug.Print "No"
Else
Unload curForm
strNewForm = WorksheetFunction.Index(Range("SYS.formlist"), intCurPos + 1)
Set newForm = VBA.UserForms.Add(strNewForm)
newForm.Show
End Sub

I'm thinking that unloading from the collection object instead of the variable will really get rid of it. Try something like this:
For i = VBA.UserForms.Count - 1 To 0 Step -1
if VBA.UserForms(i).Name = curForm.name
Unload VBA.UserForms(i)
end if
Next i

Related

Question on multiple checkboxes launching code

I have a user form and a frame with 35 checkboxes in it, numbered 1 to 35. They represent 35 Named Ranges. I test to see if any of the name ranges are not set, if set correctly the checkbox value is set to TRUE.
I found some code that would allow me to trigger a sub if one of the checkboxes is clicked. That code seems to work, but my check code above also triggers the checkbox events, which I do not want. I only want the sub to run when the checkbox is clicked with the mouse? I can post the code I'm using, but though I'd first ask the question to see if what I would like to do is possible.
Thanks,
Jim
Code in class module:
Public WithEvents ChkBox As MSForms.CheckBox
Public Sub AssignClicks(ctrl As Control)
Set ChkBox = ctrl
End Sub
Public Sub chkBox_Click()
If chkBoxProcess = "Y" Then
'ThisWorkbook.Worksheets("Sheet1").Range(ChkBox.Name).Value = Format(Now, "dd.mm.yyyy")
'MsgBox ("check box number = " & ChkBox.Name & " " & ChkBox.Value)
' Else
End If
End Sub
Code in Forms:
Public Sub UserForm_Initialize()
Dim SheetCount, i As Integer
Dim sh As Worksheet
'Public SheetName, SheetName2, StartOldNewTimeA, OldNewTimeAdd As String
'Initialize the form frmChgNameRng
'Set array values of the day options
'Set array values for 12:00 timeframes
'Set array values for 12:30 timeframes
'Set colors used in Checkboxes
'Set array for Checkboxes (boxes are numbered accross the page, 1 corressponds to Mon_1200/Mon_1230, 8 corresponds to Mon_200/Mon_230, etc.)
'Formulas are placed in the time cells on the left of the page, the macro will add the appropriate value into the Mon_1200 time slot and all other cells update off that cell
chkBoxProcess = "N"
Dim ChkBoxes As cls_ChkBox
Dim ctrl As Control
Set colTickBoxes = New Collection
For Each ctrl In Me.Controls
If TypeName(ctrl) = "CheckBox" Then
Set ChkBoxes = New cls_ChkBox
ChkBoxes.AssignClicks ctrl
colTickBoxes.Add ChkBoxes
End If
Next ctrl
'..... lots of code for Range Name Checks, etc.
End Sub
Your code is conflating control state with model data, and so the only way to tell it "named range 32 is ON", or "named range 13 is OFF", is to alter a checkbox' state, which fires that control's Change event.
There's no way around that, it's just how controls work: they fire a Change event whenever their value changes, regardless of how that's done.
Instead of having controls' state be the data, make the controls' state alter the data.
This requires conceptualizing this data, first: looks like you need to associate a number/index to some Boolean value. An array can do this.
Private namedRangeStates(1 To 35) As Boolean
Note that depending on what you're doing, initializing the state should be feasible by iterating the workbook's Names collection in the UserForm_Initialize handler. Or better, the form could expose a method that takes an array of Boolean values, and copies that state into namedRangeStates.
Now, when a checkbox is modified, make it alter the state:
Private Sub Checkbox31_Change()
namedRangeStates(31) = Checkbox31.Value
End Sub
Your form can expose that state as a property:
Public Property Get NamedRangeState(ByVal index As Long) As Boolean
NamedRangeState = namedRangeStates(index)
End Property
Public Property Let NamedRangeState(ByVal index As Long, ByVal value As Boolean)
namedRangeStates(index) = value
End Property
And now you can modify the enapsulated state independently of the combobox values.

check if textbox exists vba (using name)

I am using Ms-Access and I created a userform which has a number of Textboxes on it. The boxes are named: Box1, Box2, Box3 ...
I need to loop through all boxes, but I don't know which is the last one. To avoid looping through all userform controls I thought of trying the following:
For i =1 To 20
If Me.Controls("Box" & i).value = MyCondition Then
'do stuff
End If
Next i
This errors at Box6, which is the first box not found. Is there a way to capture this error and exit the loop when it happens.
I know I could use On Error but I 'd rather capture this specific instance with code instead.
Thanks,
George
A Controls collection is a simplified collection of controls (obviously) and share a same order as a placement order of controls.
First of all, even a creatable collection object lacks methods such as Exists or Contains , hence you need a function with error handling to checking/pulling widget from a collection.
Public Function ExistsWidget(ByVal Name As String) As Boolean
On Error Resume Next
ExistsWidget = Not Me.Controls(Name) Is Nothing
On Error GoTo 0
End Function
If you really doesnt like "ask forgiveness not permission" option you can pull entire ordered collection of your textboxes (and/or check existance by name in another loop with similar logic).
Public Function PullBoxes() As Collection
Dim Control As MSForms.Control
Set PullBoxes = New Collection
For Each Control In Me.Controls
If TypeOf Control Is MSForms.TextBox And _
Left(Control.Name, 3) = "Box" Then
Call PullBoxes.Add(Control)
End If
Next
End Function
Since names of widgets are unique - you can return a Dictionary from that function with (Control.Name, Control) pairs inside and able to check existance of widget by name properly w/o an error suppression.
There's a good guide to Dictionary if it's a new information for you.
Anyway, no matter what object you choose, if user (or code) is unable to create more of thoose textboxes - you can convert this Function above to a Static Property Get or just to a Property Get with Static collection inside, so you iterate over all controls only once (e.g. on UserForm_Initialize event)!
Public Property Get Boxes() As Collection
Static PreservedBoxes As Collection
'There's no loop, but call to PullBoxes to reduce duplicate code in answer
If PreservedBoxes Is Nothing Then _
Set PreservedBoxes = PullBoxes
Set Boxes = PreservedBoxes
End Property
After all, the last created TextBox with name Box* will be:
Public Function LastCreatedBox() As MSForms.TextBox
Dim Boxes As Collection
Set Boxes = PullBoxes
With Boxes
If .Count <> 0 Then _
Set LastCreatedBox = Boxes(.Count)
End With
End Function
I think that now things are clearer to you! Cheers!
Note: All code are definitely a bunch of methods/properties of your form, hence all stuff should be placed inside of form module.
Long story short - you cannot do what you want with VBA.
However, there is a good way to go around it - make a boolean formula, that checks whether the object exists, using the On Error. Thus, your code will not be spoiled with it.
Function ControlExists(ControlName As String, FormCheck As Form) As Boolean
Dim strTest As String
On Error Resume Next
strTest = FormCheck(ControlName).Name
ControlExists = (Err.Number = 0)
End Function
Taken from here:http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=1029435
To see the whole code working, check it like this:
Option Explicit
Sub TestMe()
Dim i As Long
For i = 1 To 20
If fnBlnExists("Label" & i, UserForm1) Then
Debug.Print UserForm1.Controls(CStr("Label" & i)).Name & " EXISTS"
Else
Debug.Print "Does Not exist!"
End If
Next i
End Sub
Public Function fnBlnExists(ControlName As String, ByRef FormCheck As UserForm) As Boolean
Dim strTest As String
On Error Resume Next
strTest = FormCheck(ControlName).Name
fnBlnExists = (Err.Number = 0)
End Function
I would suggest testing the existence in another procedure per below: -
Private Sub Command1_Click()
Dim i As Long
i = 1
Do Until Not BoxExists(i)
If Me.Conrtols("Box" & i).Value = MyCondition Then
'Do stuff
End If
i = i + 1
Next
End Sub
Private Function BoxExists(ByVal LngID As Long) As Boolean
Dim Ctrl As Control
On Error GoTo ErrorHandle
Set Ctrl = Me.Controls("BoX" & LngID)
Set Ctrl = Nothing
BoxExists = True
Exit Function
ErrorHandle:
Err.Clear
End Function
In the above, BoxExists only returns true if the box does exists.
You have taken an incorrect approach here.
If you want to limit the loop, you can loop only in the section your controls reside e.g. Detail. You can use the ControlType property to limit controls to TextBox.
Dim ctl As Control
For Each ctl In Me.Detail.Controls
If ctl.ControlType = acTextBox Then
If ctl.Value = MyCondition Then
'do stuff
End If
End If
Next ctl
I believe the loop will be faster than checking if the control name exists through a helper function and an On Error Resume Next.
But this only a personal opinion.

vba unloads all userforms on unload in sub userform

I have a userform that loads another userform
Private Sub CommandButtonAddRule_Click()
UserFormAddRule.Show
End Sub
If the UserFormAddRule either using "x" or a button with
Unload Me
the code return after the .show command, but then closes the first userform as well. This is what must not happen. How can I prevent the first userform to close as well?
Dim UForm As Object
Dim i As Integer
i = 0
For Each UForm In VBA.UserForms
Debug.Print UForm.Name
If UForm.Name <> "FormNameThatMustBeLeftOpen"
UForm.Hide
Unload VBA.UserForms(i)
i = i + 1
End If
Next
Hi the above has been tried, tested and should work. Your contrl structure can be an if statement, select case, or do while. The logic does not differ. if you need the same implementation using a different control structure or the full example, give me a shout.
Or you can
Dim i As Long
For i = VBA.UserForms.Count - 1 To 0 Step -1
If UForm.Name <> "FormNameThatMustBeLeftOpen"
Unload VBA.UserForms(i)
End If
Next i
Showing and Unloading the Child with or without the VB Editor Open
In the parent form, to create the child, and assuming the child is modal such that you cannot interact with the parent while the child is visible, which is the default, use:
dim frm as frmChild
set frm = new frmChild
... then call a public method of frmChild to initialize whatever variables it needs from the parent form in order to perform whatever task the parent is delegating to the child.
In the child form the last line of the init method should be:
me.show
Then use within the child:
me.hide
... when you are done inside the child.
Then in the parent form, immediately after calling the child's public method that initializes and shows the child, use the following line to unload the child and free memory:
set frm = nothing
The parent form will remain open.
This might have been an isolated issue, but in my case it is because the UserForm that I wanted to keep open was set to ShowModal False when it needed to be True

Manipulating ListBoxes as Objects

I am working on a VBA userform that includes ListBoxes.
So far, when I had to manipulate one or more, I always proceeded like this in my subs, with dlg as the dialogbox name, and it did not pose any problem, given that I never wanted to do anything complicated:
Dim List1 As Object
...
List1 = dlg.GetControl("CBXname")
...
List1.addItem("String",index)
...
Now I would like to do the following in this Sub
...
If (List1.Exists(Cell1.String) = False) Then
List1.addItem(Cell1.String,k)
End If
...
List1.Clear
...
But I can do neither since List1 is an Object. However, if I decide to declare List1 as a Listbox instead, I do not know how to get the proper control on the ListBox from the dialogbox (the current getcontrol gives me an error).
One of the issues with your code is that listbox objects do not have an "exists" property. To check if a value already exists in your listbox items, you will need to loop through the items.
dim i as integer
for i = 0 to List1.listcount - 1
if List1.column(0, i) = myvalue then
'myvalue exists in List1, skip
else
List1.additem myvalue
end if
next i
Where myvalue is whatever value you are trying to add to the listbox. But that brings us to the second issue in your code which is where you add "Cell1.String". If you are trying to add a value from a worksheet range you will need to refer to that range's value, as worksheet ranges do not have a "string" property as you use it here. Ie. Cell1 = Range("A1").value
As for getting control of the listbox, you can simply refer to the objects name as an object of the form. For example, dlg.List1, if the object's name is List1.
Here is a general purpose routine you can call for any list box. The calling code assumes a list box called ListBox1, a text box called TextBox1, and a Command Button called CommandButton. When you click on the button, it searches the listbox for the text from textbox1.
Private Function ExistsInListbox(ByRef aListBox As msforms.ListBox, ByVal Item As String) As Boolean
Dim booFound As Boolean
booFound = False
Dim t As Integer
ExistsInListbox = False
For t = 0 To aListBox.ListCount - 1 'correction, aListBox not ListBox1
If Item = aListBox.List(t) Then
'if we find a match, short-circuit the loop
booFound = True
Exit For
End If
Next
ExistsInListbox = booFound
End Function
private sub CommandButton_click()
Dim answer As String
Dim val As Boolean
val = ExistsInListbox(Me.ListBox1, TextBox1.Text)
If val Then
answer = "found"
Else
answer = "Not Found"
End If
MsgBox "found-" & answer
End Sub

How do I refer to a controls object, on a worksheet, using a variable name?

I have added a ListBox to a SHEET (not to a "UserForm")
I did this using the mouse.
I clicked the little Hammer and Wrench icon.
This ListBox seems to be easily referenced using code such as this:
ListBox1.Clear
or
ListBox1.AddItem("An option")
However, I have three of these ListBoxes (named, conveniently, ListBox1, ListBox2, and ListBox3) and I want to write a function to populate them with array data, like this:
Call populate_listbox(ListBox2, designAreaArray)
Where the first argument is the listbox name, the 2nd is the data.
But I do not know how to send "ListBox2" correctly, or refer to it correctly within the function.
For example:
Dim controlName as string
controlName = "ListBox1"
doesn't work, even if I define the function as follows:
Sub populate_listbox(LB As ListBox, dataArray As Variant)
Dim i As Integer: i = 0
For i = LBound(dataArray, 2) + 1 To UBound(dataArray, 2) ' Skip header row
LB.AddItem (dataArray(index, i))
Next i
End Sub
Clearly it results in a mis-matched data type error. I've tried defining "controlName" as a ListBox, but that didn't work either...
Though perhaps it is my reference to the listBox that is incorrect. I've seen SO MANY ways to refer to a control object...
MSForms.ListBox.
ME.ListBox
Forms.Controls.
Worksheet.Shapes.
The list goes on an on, and nothing has worked for me.
Try this:
Dim cMyListbox As MSForms.ListBox
Set cMyListbox = Sheet1.ListBox1 '// OR Worksheets("YourSheetName").Listbox1
cMyListbox.AddItem("An option")
Also you can populate a listbox without having to loop through the array, try this:
Dim cMyListbox As MSForms.ListBox
Dim vArray As Variant
Set cMyListbox = Sheet1.ListBox1
vArray = Range("A1:A6").Value
cMyListbox.List = vArray
Change the sub signature to match this:
Sub populate_listbox(LB As MSForms.ListBox, dataArray As Variant)
Now you can pass it like you were trying to originally.
NOTE: This only works if you used the "ActiveX" version of the listbox. I'm assuming you are because you are able to call ListBox1 straight from a module.
PS: The ActiveX controls are members off of the parent sheet object. So if you have the listbox1 on sheet1, you can also call it like Sheet1.ListBox1 so you don't get confused if you end up with multiple sheets with multiple listboxes. Also, you may want to change the name just to make it easier on yourself.
Dim controlName As OLEObject
Set controlName = Sheet1.OLEObjects("ListBox1")
Call populate_listbox(controlName, designAreaArray)
Sub populate_listbox(LB As OLEObject, dataArray As Variant)
Dim i As Integer: i = 0
For i = LBound(dataArray, 2) + 1 To UBound(dataArray, 2) ' Skip header row
LB.Object.AddItem (dataArray(Index, i))
Next i
End Sub
To access the state of a checkbox Active-X control on Sheet1:
Dim checkBox1 As Object
Set checkBox1 = Sheet1.OLEObjects("CheckBox1").Object
MsgBox checkBox1.Value