New
Creates a new instance of a class.
The New keyword is used in two contexts:
- In a declaration (Dim, Private, Public, or Static) to enable implicit object creation: a new instance is created on the first reference to the variable.
- In a Set statement, to create a new instance of a class and assign the reference to a variable or property.
Syntax:
-
[ Dim | Private | Public | Static ] varname As New type
-
Set objectvar = New type
- varname, objectvar
- Name of the variable or property receiving the new object reference.
- type
- A class name or other creatable object type. New can’t be used to create new instances of any intrinsic data type (such as Long or String), and can’t be used to create dependent objects.
When New is used in a declaration, no instance is created at the point of declaration. Instead, an instance is created automatically the first time the variable is referenced after declaration. Each time the variable is set to Nothing and then referenced again, a new instance is created.
When New is used with Set, an instance is created immediately, and the reference is assigned to objectvar. If objectvar previously held a reference to another object, that reference is released when the new one is assigned.
Note
New cannot be used together with WithEvents in a declaration. To connect an event-aware object reference, declare the variable with WithEvents and assign it later with Set.
Example
Implicit creation via New in a declaration. The instance of Worksheet is created on first use, not at the Dim line.
Dim X As New Worksheet
' No instance exists yet.
X.Activate ' First reference - instance is created here.
Explicit creation via Set … = New. The instance is created at the Set line. This is the more common form, since the moment of construction is visible at the call site.
Dim Forms(1 To 4) As Form1
Dim i As Long
For i = 1 To 4
Set Forms(i) = New Form1
Next i