Question

This is just a piece of my code, but it’s causing me issues. The intended purpose of the code is to take the users input and make it the size of the array. However, it is giving me the error ‘index was outside bounds of array’ not matter what value I enter.

Here is the code:

Option Explicit On
Option Strict On

Imports System

Module numbers
    Sub Main()
        'index decides number of candidates.
        Dim index as integer
        Dim candidate(index) as integer

        Console.Write("Please enter the number of candidates in the election: ")
        index=Convert.toInt32(Console.Readline())

        Do Until candidate(index) >= 0
            Console.Write(" Enter the name of candidate: ")
            candidate(index)=Convert.toInt32(Console.Readline())

            candidate(index) -=1
        Loop
    End Sub
End Module

Answer 1

You’ve got a few problems here.

Firstly, you need to initialise your array after you know how big it is.

Secondly, you will find a For loop is easier than a Do loop for implementing the logic, as you don’t need to keep track of the loop counter manually.

Finally, you are converting your candidate names to an integer. Most people’s names are not numeric!

Sub Main()
    'index decides number of candidates.
    Dim index as integer

    Console.Write("Please enter the number of candidates in the election: ")
    index=Convert.toInt32(Console.Readline())

    ' We now know how big the array needs to be so you can initialise it.
    Dim candidate(index) as integer

    ' We use a For loop so that we don't have to worry about the 
    ' loop counter ourselves.
    For i As Integer = 0 to (index - 1)
        Console.Write(" Enter the name of candidate: ")
        ' Your candidate names appear to be an integer - 
        ' Surely that's not right??! I think you meant
        ' candidate(i) = Console.Readline()
        candidate(i)=Convert.toInt32(Console.Readline())
    Next
End Sub