Can $ Reduce the Size of VB6 Applications? | CodeGuru
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Can $ Reduce the Size of VB6 Applications?

Open a new project and create a procedure with four variables. Put them in a simple operation and write this operation 1000 times. Compile(1) the resulting program twice: once before and once after adding the dollar sign to the variables(2): Private Sub A_Fistful_Of_Dollars() Dim AA As String Dim BB As String Dim CC As Byte […]

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CodeGuru Staff
CodeGuru Staff
Dec 11, 2006
2 minute read
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Open a new project and create a procedure with four variables. Put them in a simple operation and write this operation 1000 times. Compile(1) the resulting program twice: once before and once after adding the dollar sign to the variables(2):

Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = BB & CC & DD

End Sub

Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA$ = BB$ & CC & DD

End Sub

But, comparing the results shows that adding the dollar sign to the variables cannot change the size of applications.

Now, change A_Fistful_Of_Dollars() and pass the variables into VB6 functions. Write every function 1000 times, and compile the resulting program twice: once before and once after adding the dollar sign to the functions.

Of course, some functions remove the dollar sign:

  • Abs()
  • CBool()
  • CByte()
  • CCur()
  • CDate()
  • CDbl()
  • CInt()
  • CLng()
  • CSng()
  • CStr()
  • Fix()
  • Int()
  • Len()
  • InStr()
  • LBound()
  • StrComp()
  • UBound()

And, some functions do not work with the dollar sign:

  • Asc()
  • Array()
  • Atn()
  • Choose()
  • Cos()
  • CreateObject()
  • DateAdd()
  • DateDiff()
  • DatePart()
  • DateSerial()
  • DateValue()
  • Day()
  • Exp()
  • FileLen()
  • Filter()
  • GetObject()
  • Hour()
  • InStrRev()
  • IsArray()
  • IsDate()
  • IsEmpty()
  • IsNull()
  • IsNumeric()
  • IsObject()
  • Log()
  • Minute()
  • Month()
  • MsgBox()
  • Now()
  • RGB()
  • Rnd()
  • Round()
  • Second()
  • Sgn()
  • Sin()
  • Split()
  • Sqr()
  • Tan()
  • Timer()
  • TimeSerial()
  • TimeValue()
  • VarType()
  • Weekday()
  • Year()

And, for some, using the dollar sign does not change the size of applications:

  • Dir()
  • FormatCurrency()
  • FormatDateTime()
  • FormatNumber()
  • FormatPercent()
  • Input()
  • InputB()
  • InputBox()
  • MonthName()
  • Replace()
  • StrReverse()
  • TypeName()
  • WeekdayName()
    •

But, for some:

Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = Chr(CC)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = Chr$(CC)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = ChrB(CC)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = ChrB$(CC)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = Command()
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
    AA = Command$()
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = ChrW(CC)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = ChrW$(CC)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = CurDir(BB)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = CurDir$(BB)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = Environ(BB)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = Environ$(BB)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = Error(CC)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = Error$(CC)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = Format(BB)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = Format$(BB)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = Hex(BB)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = Hex$(BB)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = LCase(BB)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = LCase$(BB)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = Left(BB, CC)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = Left$(BB, CC)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = LeftB(BB, CC)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = LeftB$(BB, CC)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = LTrim(BB)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = LTrim$(BB)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = Mid(BB, CC, DD)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = Mid$(BB, CC, DD)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = MidB(BB, CC, DD)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = MidB$(BB, CC, DD)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = Oct(BB)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = Oct$(BB)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = Right(BB, CC)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = Right$(BB, CC)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = RightB(BB, CC)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = RightB$(BB, CC)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = RTrim(BB)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = RTrim$(BB)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = Space(CC)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = Space$(CC)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = Str(CC)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = Str$(CC)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = String(CC, BB)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = String$(CC, BB)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = Time
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = Time$
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = Trim(BB)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = Trim$(BB)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = UCase(BB)
End Sub
 
Private Sub
   A_Fistful_Of_Dollars()
   Dim AA As String
   Dim BB As String
   Dim CC As Byte
   Dim DD As Byte

   'Write it a thousand times
   AA = UCase$(BB)
End Sub

Using the dollar sign changes the size of applications(3):

Function Size (Bytes) Bytes Used Function$ Size (Bytes) Bytes Used Reduce Rate
Chr() 49152 65536 Chr$() 28672 32768 41.6%
ChrB() 49152 65536 ChrB$() 28672 32768 41.6%
ChrW() 57344 65536 ChrW$() 32768 32768 42.8%
Command() 45050 65536 Command$() 24576 32768 45.4%
CurDir() 61440 65536 CurDir$() 40960 65536 33.3%
Environ() 61440 65536 Environ$() 40960 65536 33.3%
Error() 61440 65536 Error$() 40960 65536 33.3%
Format() 94208 98304 Format$() 69632 98304 26.0%
Hex() 61440 65536 Hex$() 40960 65536 33.3%
LCase() 61440 65536 LCase$() 28672 32768 53.3%
Left() 65536 65536 Left$() 32768 32768 50%
LeftB() 65536 65536 LeftB$() 32768 32768 50%
LTrim() 61440 65536 LTrim$() 28672 32768 53.3%
Mid() 81920 98304 Mid$() 45065 65536 44.9%
MidB() 81920 98304 MidB$() 45065 65536 44.9%
Oct() 61440 65536 Oct$() 40960 65536 33.3%
Right() 65536 65536 Right$() 32768 32768 50%
RightB() 65536 65536 RightB$() 32768 32768 50%
RTrim() 61440 65536 RTrim$() 28672 32768 53.3%
Space() 49152 65536 Space$() 32768 32768 33.3%
Str() 61440 65536 Str$() 40960 65536 33.3%
String() 65536 65536 String$() 40960 65536 37.5%
Time 45056 65536 Time$ 24576 32768 45.4%
Trim() 61440 65536 Trim$() 28672 32768 53.3%
UCase() 61440 65536 UCase$() 28672 32768 53.3%

So, in Visual Basic 6.0:

  1. Adding the dollar sign ($) to some functions reduces the size of applications.
  2. The reduce rate can reach to upwards of 50%.

Footnotes

1. Compiling Options

Project Menu - Project Properties - Compile - Compile to Native Code - Optimize for Fast Code

2. Of course, just to the strings, because:

The dollar sign ($) type-declaration character represents a String in Visual Basic.

See String data type.

3. See also

In Visual Basic 6.0, some functions have two versions, one that returns a String value and one that returns a Variant value. These function pairs are differentiated by a dollar sign ($) suffix for the String version; for example, Chr and Chr$.

See String ($) Function for Visual Basic 6.0 Users.

And:

Some of the VBA string functions come in two varieties, one that returns a string, and one that returns a string-type Variant value. The names of the functions that return a string include a dollar sign ("$"); for example, Chr$, Format$, LCase$, Left$, LTrim$, Mid$, Right$, RTrim$, Space$, Trim$, and UCase$. The functions that return a string-type Variant value have no dollar sign; for example, Chr, Format, LCase, Left, LTrim, Mid, Right, RTrim, Space, Trim, and UCase. The string-returning functions are faster.

See Returning Portions of a String.
CodeGuru Staff
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