TomGee.us

To count the number of unique or distinct values in a list in Microsoft Excel, use the following formula.  A2:A177 is the range of cells you want to count the unique values in:

=SUM(IF(FREQUENCY(A2:A177,A2:A177)>0,1))

Create a new C# Console Application in Visual Studio and compile the code.  Copy the compiled .exe file to the directory containing the .vbs scripts you want to run in sequence.

Here’s a quick and dirty way to use Microsoft’s “Random” class for generating a random (or as you will soon find out, not-so-random) number.

Because I believe in code reuse, I started by creating a new function that would return the random number as an integer datatype.

static int RandomNumber(int min, int max)

{

Random random = new Random();

return random.Next(min, max);

}

The only things you have to pass to the function are the upper and lower boundaries that you want the random number to fall between.

int zip = RandomNumber(10000, 99999);

In the above example, a random number between 10000 and 99999 will be assigned to the “zip” variable.

As I stated above, the random number isn’t actually very random and, therefore, might not be a perfect fit for what your trying to use it for.  However, the Random class serves its purpose for quick data generation for application testing.

Happy coding!

I use this code to cycle through all controls on a form and disable them.  After each control has been disabled, you can then specify individual controls that you wish to be enabled.  This is a handy way to force users to click specific buttons or enter data in specific fields before the rest of the controls on a form become active (enabled).

Private Sub LockControls()
‘ Disable all the controls on the form
Dim ctrl As Control

For Each ctrl In Me.Controls
ctrl.Enabled = False
Next

Me.txt_Log.Enabled = True ‘ re-enable the log box
Me.progBar.Enabled = True ‘ re-enable the progress bar
Me.lst_ItemGroups.Enabled = True ‘ re-enable the listbox
End Sub

To enable all controls on the form, use the following function:

Private Sub UnlockControls()
‘ Enable all the controls on the form
Dim ctrl As Control

For Each ctrl In Me.Controls
ctrl.Enabled = True
Next
End Sub

VBA and VB6 developers are used to the familiar LEFT and RIGHT string manipulation functions.  However, VB.NET no longer has these functions built-in. As a result, when I create a new VB.NET application, I create the following two functions which I can then use to replicate the “old” LEFT and RIGHT functionality.

Public Function Left(ByVal Value As String, ByVal Length As Integer) As String
‘ Rereate a LEFT function for string manipulation
If Value.Length >= Length Then
Return Value.Substring(0, Length)
Else
Return Value
End If
End Function

Public Function Right(ByVal Value As String, ByVal Length As Integer) As String
‘ Recreate a RIGHT function for string manipulation
If Value.Length >= Length Then
Return Value.Substring(Value.Length – Length, Length)
Else
Return Value
End If
End Function