class vb.net

Question

i had create a class as follow Public Class keyword Public _name As String Public _count As Integer Public _docPoint As Integer() Public _SQLPoint As Integer End Class as global variable i wish to create an array of key1 inherits from keyword which still not sure about it's length, thus i write this. Dim key1 As keyword() key1(0) = New keyword key1(0)._name = "" However, when i run this program in vb.net, the following error message display "Object reference not set to an instance of an object" at line 170 which is line 170: key1(0) = New keyword May anyone help me on this problem, your help is kindly appreciate.....:)