View source for Simplifying building of complex strings in code (eg sql statements)

{{VB6}}

We're long used to ugly code like this:

 Dim x as string 
 
 x = "SELECT *" & _
    "FROM products" & _ 
    "WHERE Something = 1234"

Its ugly. We'd really like to see code like this:

 Dim SQL as '''New StringBuilder'''
 
 SQL "SELECT *"
 SQL "  FROM products"
 SQL " WHERE Something=12344"
  
 MsgBox "Sql Statement=" & '''SQL.value()'''

VB6 has the ability to mark one method of a class as the "default" method, so that you dont have to explicitly name the method when referring to  the class instance. Notice in the code sample above, we're NOT calling any named method. We *assume* from the context that the string's are being concatenated. Makes sense.

Here's the code for a slimmed down version of StringBuilder.CLS (make it public/creatable)

 Option Explicit
 
 Private c As New Collection
 
 'IMPORTANT NOTE: Select this method, click TOOLS|Procedure Attributes|Advanced
 '  and select "(default)" in the ProcedureID dropdown!!
 
 '''Public Sub Add(s)''' 'Yes, this intentionally a Variant type! More useful this way.
     c.Add CStr(s)
 End Sub
 
 Public Function CopyToClipboard()
     Clipboard.Clear
     Clipboard.SetText Me.value
 End Function
 
 Public Function Value() As String
     Dim s As String
     Dim I
     s = ""
     For Each I In c
         s = s & I & vbcrlf
     Next
     value = s
 End Function