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# How to Dimension a Variable as Name Type

PSS ID Number: 114287

Article Last Modified on 1/17/2001

The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications 1.0

This article was previously published under Q114287

## SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Visual Basic Programming System, Applications Edition, if you declare a variable of Name type in your module, as in the following example

       Dim MyVar as Name

you receive a syntax error when you run the code.

## CAUSE

In Microsoft Visual Basic in Microsoft Excel, Name is a reserved keyword that conflicts with the Name object of the Names collection.

## WORKAROUND

To declare a variable of Name type, explicitly reference the object, as in the following example:

       Dim MyVar as Excel.Name

## MORE INFORMATION

The Dim statement in Visual Basic, Applications Edition, is used to declare variables and allocate storage space. The syntax is as follows

       Dim varname As <type>

where <type> is the data type of the variable. This data type can be an object type, such as Name. An object type is a type of object exposed by an application through OLE Automation. An example of using the Dim statement to declare a variable as Name type is as follows:

       Sub List_Names()
          ' Dimension variable MyName as Name type
          Dim MyName As Excel.Name
          ' Display reference for each name in the names collection
          For Each MyName In ActiveWorkbook.Names
            Count = Count + 1
            MsgBox ActiveWorkbook.Names(Count)
          Next MyName
       End Sub

Microsoft provides examples of Visual Basic procedures for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This Visual Basic procedure is provided "as is" and Microsoft does not guarantee that it can be used in all situations. Microsoft does not support modifications of this procedure to suit customer requirements for a particular purpose. Note that a line that is preceded by an apostrophe introduces a comment in the code--comments are provided to explain what the code is doing at a particular point in the procedure. Note also that an underscore character (_) indicates that code continues from one line to the next. You can type lines that contain this character as one logical line or you can divide the lines of code and include the line continuation character. For more information about Visual Basic for Applications programming style, see the "Programming Style in This Manual" section in the "Document Conventions" section of the Visual Basic "User's Guide."

## REFERENCES

For more information about the Dim Statement, choose the Search button in the Visual Basic Reference and type:

`Dim`

Keywords: KB114287
Technology: kbVBA100 kbVBASearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbZNotKeyword6