Question

How do I pass a dictionary object to another function? The code below:

Sub aaa(dict As Object)
Set dict = CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")
...
process dict 
End Sub

Sub process(dict As Scripting.Dictionary)
    MsgBox dict.Count
End Sub

gives the compile error "User defined type not defined".

---

Also,

Set dict = CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")

works, but

Dim dict As New Scripting.Dictionary 

gives "User defined type not defined".

I’m using Excel 2010.

Answer 1

When you use CreateObject you are binding the object at run-time (ie, late binding). When you use As Scripting.Dictionary the object is bound at compile-time (ie, early binding).

If you want to do early binding you will need to set a reference to the correct library. To do this, go to Tools –> References… and select “Microsoft Scripting Runtime”