What is an array? An array is a list of data item inmemory that all have the same name and whose elements are differentiated by a subscript. In simple terms, an array can be anything that is a group of related numbers such as prices, phone numbers, catalog order numbers and the list goes on and on. ----------------------- Why do we need them? From the beginning of the computer, programmers like to "cheat". This means that they try to make the computer do as much as possible, which makes the code for a program much shorter. Arrays can be huge, and what person wants to input each individual variable. This is why we need to "cheat" and use arrays to our advantage. ----------------------- Sample code: this is a sample for the variable (avar) CLS PRINT "DEMO FOR ARRAYS" FOR avar=1 to 100 INPUT "What is the product number?"; prodnum(avar):PRINT INPUT "What is the product desciption(name)?"; prodscr$(avar):PRINT INPUT "are there any more products:(Y/N)"; ans$ ans$ = UCASE$(LEFT$(ans$,1)) IF (ans$ <> "Y") THEN EXIT FOR END IF NEXT avar PRINT "hey, you made it" PRINT prodscr$(1); tab(20); prodnum(1) PRINT prodscr$(2); tab(20); prodnum(2) END ----------------------- What is the ARRAY ELEMENT in the above code? avar is the array variable. This is simply a name that is given to the array. The important information is held in the array number or element. 1 to 100 signifies how many prodnum and prodscr there are. Towards the end of the program, we used this number to take out the 1st and 2nd inputs and print them on the screen. ----------------------- What is a PARALLEL ARRAY? A parallel array is an array that has two or more shared informations. The program uses a parallel array between prodnum and prodscr$. For example prodnum(1) = 409 and prodscr$(1)= Huffy Bike. These two correspond to each other. In your product database or ordering form, the Huffy bike is ordered as number 409. Do you see how they are parallel. As a final statement, the parallel arrays must have the same number of elements(1 to x) and must have related value(depending on the users need." ----------------------- What is a DYNAMIC ARRAY? A dynamic array is used for constantly changing data. This is handled in a different format. Dynamic arrays are another section. Do not ask me how to use them, because I don't do anything with graphics. ----------------------- submitted by ANTHRAX contact him at http://ddi.digital.net/~triplej/calcpage.htm or e-mail me at triplej@digital.ne