INFO: Type Declaration Character to Data Type Chart (191713)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual Basic Learning Edition for Windows 6.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows 6.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows 6.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Control Creation Edition for Windows 5.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Learning Edition for Windows 5.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows 5.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Standard Edition, 32-bit, for Windows 4.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition, 16-bit, for Windows 4.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition, 32-bit, for Windows 4.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition, 16-bit, for Windows 4.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition, 32-bit, for Windows 4.0
This article was previously published under Q191713

SUMMARY

This article shows you the type declaration characters and corresponding data types. A Type Declaration Character is a character appended to a variable name indicating the variable's data type. For example, the variable name MyString$ has a dollar sign appended to the variable name and is dimensioned as a String data type.

MORE INFORMATION

The following table shows the type declaration characters and corresponding data types. 
Type Declaration Character  Data Type
--------------------------  ---------
<WWBLOCKQUOTE>
          %                 Integer
          &                 Long
          !                 Single
          #                 Double
          $                 String
          @                 Currency
Even when using type declaration characters, you still need to declare your variables when you have Option Explicit at the beginning of the Module. Using Option Explicit is recommended to prevent problems due to misspelled variable names. When "Require Variable Declaration" is checked in the Editor Tab of the Options dialog box from the Tools Menu, Option Explicit is added to new Modules automatically. If you use Option Explicit, but you do not declare your variables, you will receive the following error message at run-time:
Compile Error
Variable Not Defined
To prevent this error from occurring, you can either remove Option Explicit or explicitly declare your variables. Using type declaration characters allows you to shorten these statements. For example, you can use this: 
   Dim MyVar$
instead of this: 
   Dim MyVar As String
Both statements declare MyVar to be a memory variable of type String.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:6/29/2004
Keywords:kbinfo KB191713
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