Byref

[Logico]

Hi everybody, I've tried to use the byref keyword for passing
arguments to subroutines and functions in my ASP pages with VBScript,
but it seems that both byref and byval are irrilevant, as simple
variables and arrays are always passed by value and objects (I tried
dictionary ones) are always passed by reference. Is it correct? Or I'm
wrong and I did a mistake on my test code (that you can find below)?
Can someone explain to me why there is this behaviour? Then, where is
the "byref" used? Thanks,

Alessio

<%
Sub square(byval num)
num=num*num
end Sub
Sub incrementa(byre f num)
num=num+100
end Sub

Sub squareA(byval a)
dim k
for k=lbound(a) to ubound(a)
a(k) = a(k) * a(k)
next
end Sub
Sub incrementaA(byr ef a)
dim k
for k=lbound(a) to ubound(a)
a(k) = a(k) + 10
next
end Sub

Sub squareD(byval d)
dim k
for each k in d
d.item(k) = d.item(k) * d.item(k)
next
end Sub
Sub incrementaD(byr ef d)
dim k
for each k in d
d.item(k) = d.item(k) + 10
next
end Sub
dim b
b=5
Response.Write( "b=" & b & "#<br>")
square(b)
Response.Write( "b=" & b & "#<br>")
incrementa(b)
Response.Write( "b=" & b & "#<br>")
dim arr
arr=Array(5, 7, 10)
Response.Write( "arr(1)=" & arr(1) & "#<br>")
squareA(arr)
Response.Write( "arr(1)=" & arr(1) & "#<br>")
incrementaA(arr )
Response.Write( "arr(1)=" & arr(1) & "#<br>")
dim dict, i
set dict=server.Cre ateObject("Scri pting.Dictionar y")
for i=1 to 3
dict.Add "K" & i, i
next
Response.Write( "dict.item('K2' )=" & dict.item("K2") & "#<br>")
squareD(dict)
Response.Write( "dict.item('K2' )=" & dict.item("K2") & "#<br>")
incrementaD(dic t)
Response.Write( "dict.item('K2' )=" & dict.item("K2") & "#<br>")
set dict=nothing
%>

[Mark Schupp]

IIRC the default is ByRef. I normally specify byref or byval explicitly both
to be sure and as a documentation aid. Objects and arrays may ignore appear
to always be passed ByRef because the variable is a reference to the object.
I haven't tried to experiment with this but you could try passing an object
byval and set the parameter to another object inside the sub. Then see if it
changes.

You did not include the output of your test script so there is no way to see
if it behaves as expected. Try something simple first like:

sub byvalue( byval n )
n = 2
end sub

sub byreference( byref n )
n = 3
end sub

dim n
n = 1
Response.write "n=" & CStr(n) & "<br>"

call byvalue(n)
Response.write "n=" & CStr(n) & "<br>"

call byreference(n)
Response.write "n=" & CStr(n) & "<br>"

You should get:
n=1
n=1
n=3

--
Mark Schupp

"Logico" <am*****@dsi.un ive.it> wrote in message
news:ff******** *************** ***@posting.goo gle.com...

Hi everybody, I've tried to use the byref keyword for passing
arguments to subroutines and functions in my ASP pages with VBScript,
but it seems that both byref and byval are irrilevant, as simple
variables and arrays are always passed by value and objects (I tried
dictionary ones) are always passed by reference. Is it correct? Or I'm
wrong and I did a mistake on my test code (that you can find below)?
Can someone explain to me why there is this behaviour? Then, where is
the "byref" used? Thanks,

Alessio

<%
Sub square(byval num)
num=num*num
end Sub
Sub incrementa(byre f num)
num=num+100
end Sub

Sub squareA(byval a)
dim k
for k=lbound(a) to ubound(a)
a(k) = a(k) * a(k)
next
end Sub
Sub incrementaA(byr ef a)
dim k
for k=lbound(a) to ubound(a)
a(k) = a(k) + 10
next
end Sub

Sub squareD(byval d)
dim k
for each k in d
d.item(k) = d.item(k) * d.item(k)
next
end Sub
Sub incrementaD(byr ef d)
dim k
for each k in d
d.item(k) = d.item(k) + 10
next
end Sub
dim b
b=5
Response.Write( "b=" & b & "#<br>")
square(b)
Response.Write( "b=" & b & "#<br>")
incrementa(b)
Response.Write( "b=" & b & "#<br>")
dim arr
arr=Array(5, 7, 10)
Response.Write( "arr(1)=" & arr(1) & "#<br>")
squareA(arr)
Response.Write( "arr(1)=" & arr(1) & "#<br>")
incrementaA(arr )
Response.Write( "arr(1)=" & arr(1) & "#<br>")
dim dict, i
set dict=server.Cre ateObject("Scri pting.Dictionar y")
for i=1 to 3
dict.Add "K" & i, i
next
Response.Write( "dict.item('K2' )=" & dict.item("K2") & "#<br>")
squareD(dict)
Response.Write( "dict.item('K2' )=" & dict.item("K2") & "#<br>")
incrementaD(dic t)
Response.Write( "dict.item('K2' )=" & dict.item("K2") & "#<br>")
set dict=nothing
%>

[Bob Barrows [MVP]]

Logico wrote:

Hi everybody, I've tried to use the byref keyword for passing
arguments to subroutines and functions in my ASP pages with VBScript,
but it seems that both byref and byval are irrilevant, as simple
variables and arrays are always passed by value and objects (I tried
dictionary ones) are always passed by reference. Is it correct? Or I'm
wrong and I did a mistake on my test code (that you can find below)?
Can someone explain to me why there is this behaviour? Then, where is
the "byref" used? Thanks,

squareD(b)

Using parentheses when passing an argument forces the argument to be passed
byval (simplified explanation). Do not use parentheses when calling a sub:

squareD b

For more information, see here:

http://blogs.msdn.com/ericlippert/ar.../15/52996.aspx

Bob Barrows

--
Microsoft MVP -- ASP/ASP.NET
Please reply to the newsgroup. The email account listed in my From
header is my spam trap, so I don't check it very often. You will get a
quicker response by posting to the newsgroup.

[StephenMcC]

Hey,

I have a another query on this issue, when using ByRef parameters,
espiceally in ASP with VBScript, is it more expensive to use ByRef than ByVal
params...ie: as below...

sOutPut = MyFunction(Data 1, Data2)

Public Function MyFunction(ByRe f Param1, ByRef Param2)
some code
...
End Sub

....if the Param1 & Param2 are not going to be changed inside the function
call then should I drop the use of ByRef in the function definition and pass
the params ByVal: 'sOutPut = MyFunction((Dat a1), (Data2))' , might this help
save memory/resources, espiceally if this call is used many times in a single
page?

Any insight into this would be most helpful, any links even better!

Cheers.

StephenMcC
..

"Bob Barrows [MVP]" wrote:

Logico wrote:

Hi everybody, I've tried to use the byref keyword for passing
arguments to subroutines and functions in my ASP pages with VBScript,
but it seems that both byref and byval are irrilevant, as simple
variables and arrays are always passed by value and objects (I tried
dictionary ones) are always passed by reference. Is it correct? Or I'm
wrong and I did a mistake on my test code (that you can find below)?
Can someone explain to me why there is this behaviour? Then, where is
the "byref" used? Thanks,

squareD(b)

Using parentheses when passing an argument forces the argument to be passed
byval (simplified explanation). Do not use parentheses when calling a sub:

squareD b

For more information, see here:

http://blogs.msdn.com/ericlippert/ar.../15/52996.aspx

Bob Barrows

--
Microsoft MVP -- ASP/ASP.NET
Please reply to the newsgroup. The email account listed in my From
header is my spam trap, so I don't check it very often. You will get a
quicker response by posting to the newsgroup.

[Evertjan.]

=?Utf-8?B?U3RlcGhlbk1 jQw==?= wrote on 09 mei 2005 in
microsoft.publi c.inetserver.as p.general:

I have a another query on this issue, when using ByRef parameters,
espiceally in ASP with VBScript, is it more expensive to use ByRef
than ByVal params...ie: as below...

sOutPut = MyFunction(Data 1, Data2)

Public Function MyFunction(ByRe f Param1, ByRef Param2)
some code
...
End Sub

Very expensive.
As this is not part of vbscript under ASP,
you will be fined with an error.
--
Evertjan.
The Netherlands.
(Replace all crosses with dots in my emailaddress)

[StephenMcC]

Hi Evertjan,

Thanks for ur speedy reply. Sorry but I'm at a loss, do u mean the function
declaration will cause an error !? This is how we are currently doing it and
it doesn't complain. I think I may change the code to pass ByVal where no
return is required, in the call to the function droping parentheses around
the params not to be returned.

StephenMcC
..

"Evertjan." wrote:

=?Utf-8?B?U3RlcGhlbk1 jQw==?= wrote on 09 mei 2005 in
microsoft.publi c.inetserver.as p.general:

I have a another query on this issue, when using ByRef parameters,
espiceally in ASP with VBScript, is it more expensive to use ByRef
than ByVal params...ie: as below...

sOutPut = MyFunction(Data 1, Data2)

Public Function MyFunction(ByRe f Param1, ByRef Param2)
some code
...
End Sub

Very expensive.
As this is not part of vbscript under ASP,
you will be fined with an error.
--
Evertjan.
The Netherlands.
(Replace all crosses with dots in my emailaddress)

[Bob Barrows [MVP]]

Evertjan. wrote:

=?Utf-8?B?U3RlcGhlbk1 jQw==?= wrote on 09 mei 2005 in
microsoft.publi c.inetserver.as p.general:

I have a another query on this issue, when using ByRef parameters,
espiceally in ASP with VBScript, is it more expensive to use ByRef
than ByVal params...ie: as below...

sOutPut = MyFunction(Data 1, Data2)

Public Function MyFunction(ByRe f Param1, ByRef Param2)
some code
...
End Sub

Very expensive.
As this is not part of vbscript under ASP,
you will be fined with an error.

?
Are you talking about "End Sub" instead of "End Function"?

--
Microsoft MVP -- ASP/ASP.NET
Please reply to the newsgroup. The email account listed in my From
header is my spam trap, so I don't check it very often. You will get a
quicker response by posting to the newsgroup.

[Bob Barrows [MVP]]

StephenMcC wrote:

Hey,

I have a another query on this issue, when using ByRef parameters,
espiceally in ASP with VBScript, is it more expensive to use ByRef
than ByVal params...ie: as below...

Since a copy of the variable is made, yes ByVal is a little more expensive.
However, I sincerely doubt that anyone would ever notice the difference. I
tend to use ByVal unless ByRef functionality s needed.
Bob Barrows
--
Microsoft MVP -- ASP/ASP.NET
Please reply to the newsgroup. The email account listed in my From
header is my spam trap, so I don't check it very often. You will get a
quicker response by posting to the newsgroup.

[Mark J. McGinty]

"StephenMcC " <St********@dis cussions.micros oft.com> wrote in message
news:38******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com...

Hey,

I have a another query on this issue, when using ByRef parameters,
espiceally in ASP with VBScript, is it more expensive to use ByRef than
ByVal
params...ie: as below...

sOutPut = MyFunction(Data 1, Data2)

Public Function MyFunction(ByRe f Param1, ByRef Param2)
some code
...
End Sub

...if the Param1 & Param2 are not going to be changed inside the function
call then should I drop the use of ByRef in the function definition and
pass
the params ByVal: 'sOutPut = MyFunction((Dat a1), (Data2))' , might this
help
save memory/resources, espiceally if this call is used many times in a
single
page?

Any insight into this would be most helpful, any links even better!
It depends on the size of the parameters. ByRef will incur very minor
overhead dereferencing the ByRef parameter, so I only use it for longs and
integers if I need the callee to be able to alter the value.

Otoh, assuming ByVal causes a copy to be made, it would be more expensive in
terms of both cpu and memory to pass a large string by value.

Objects cannot be passed by value in the classic sense, the ByVal modifier
causes something else to happen, (that never seemed intuitive to me, and I
can't seem to find any docs about it.)
-Mark


Cheers.

StephenMcC
.

"Bob Barrows [MVP]" wrote:

Logico wrote:

> Hi everybody, I've tried to use the byref keyword for passing
> arguments to subroutines and functions in my ASP pages with VBScript,
> but it seems that both byref and byval are irrilevant, as simple
> variables and arrays are always passed by value and objects (I tried
> dictionary ones) are always passed by reference. Is it correct? Or I'm
> wrong and I did a mistake on my test code (that you can find below)?
> Can someone explain to me why there is this behaviour? Then, where is
> the "byref" used? Thanks,
>
> squareD(b)

Using parentheses when passing an argument forces the argument to be
passed
byval (simplified explanation). Do not use parentheses when calling a
sub:

squareD b

For more information, see here:

http://blogs.msdn.com/ericlippert/ar.../15/52996.aspx

Bob Barrows

--
Microsoft MVP -- ASP/ASP.NET
Please reply to the newsgroup. The email account listed in my From
header is my spam trap, so I don't check it very often. You will get a
quicker response by posting to the newsgroup.

[Patrice]

Objects are basically a pointer. Using ByVal you pass a pointer, using ByRef
a pointer to a pointer. In both cases you can reach the object that is then
updatable. Additionay using ByRef you can assign a new object to the pointer
and reflect this change in the caller...

I'm not talking specifically about VBScript (could have specific things as
it uses the "variant" datatype) but rather about VB /VB.NET...

Patrice
--

"Mark J. McGinty" <mm******@spamf romyou.com> a écrit dans le message de
news:%2******** ********@TK2MSF TNGP12.phx.gbl. ..

"StephenMcC " <St********@dis cussions.micros oft.com> wrote in message
news:38******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com...

Hey,

I have a another query on this issue, when using ByRef parameters,
espiceally in ASP with VBScript, is it more expensive to use ByRef than
ByVal
params...ie: as below...

sOutPut = MyFunction(Data 1, Data2)

Public Function MyFunction(ByRe f Param1, ByRef Param2)
some code
...
End Sub

...if the Param1 & Param2 are not going to be changed inside the function call then should I drop the use of ByRef in the function definition and
pass
the params ByVal: 'sOutPut = MyFunction((Dat a1), (Data2))' , might this
help
save memory/resources, espiceally if this call is used many times in a
single
page?

Any insight into this would be most helpful, any links even better!
It depends on the size of the parameters. ByRef will incur very minor
overhead dereferencing the ByRef parameter, so I only use it for longs and
integers if I need the callee to be able to alter the value.

Otoh, assuming ByVal causes a copy to be made, it would be more expensive

in terms of both cpu and memory to pass a large string by value.

Objects cannot be passed by value in the classic sense, the ByVal modifier
causes something else to happen, (that never seemed intuitive to me, and I
can't seem to find any docs about it.)
-Mark

Cheers.

StephenMcC
.

"Bob Barrows [MVP]" wrote:

Logico wrote:
> Hi everybody, I've tried to use the byref keyword for passing
> arguments to subroutines and functions in my ASP pages with VBScript,
> but it seems that both byref and byval are irrilevant, as simple
> variables and arrays are always passed by value and objects (I tried
> dictionary ones) are always passed by reference. Is it correct? Or I'm > wrong and I did a mistake on my test code (that you can find below)?
> Can someone explain to me why there is this behaviour? Then, where is
> the "byref" used? Thanks,
>
> squareD(b)

Using parentheses when passing an argument forces the argument to be
passed
byval (simplified explanation). Do not use parentheses when calling a
sub:

squareD b

For more information, see here:

http://blogs.msdn.com/ericlippert/ar.../15/52996.aspx

Bob Barrows

--
Microsoft MVP -- ASP/ASP.NET
Please reply to the newsgroup. The email account listed in my From
header is my spam trap, so I don't check it very often. You will get a
quicker response by posting to the newsgroup.