User Types

I was recently reviewing the IDEAScript training material for a class I am giving in a few weeks and came across the user type "variable".  This is something I don't usually use but probably should.  What it does is allow you to group different variable types into one grouping.  Also within the grouping the variable types are not limited to the same type, so you can mix them up.  I good example would be obtaining information from a database, you create a type that contains the different fields and define the variables so that it matches up with the information in the database.  The example below is for a three field database in which the first field is character, the second is a number with no decimals and the third is a number with decimals.  The code shows how to set the variables and read them.  After you set-up the type you have to Dim it in order to use it.  I have also found that you can use the type as an array, so that can also be useful.

So does anyone use types in their scripts?  If so I would be interested to hear how you use them. 

'First define the type, this type can hold three different variables

Type myDatabase
	firstField As String
	secondField As Integer
	thirdField As Double
End Type

Sub Main
	'you have to Dim the user type before you can use it
	Dim myFile As myDatabase
	
	myFile.firstField = "First field"
	myFile.secondField = 10
	myFile.thirdField = 11.34
	
	MsgBox myFile.firstField 
	MsgBox myFile.secondField 
	MsgBox myFile.thirdField 
End Sub