Microsoft Knowledge Base

XL: VB Function Must Have Variant Arguments to Call From XLM
Last reviewed: September 13, 1996
Article ID: Q124574
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 5.0, 5.0c
  • Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 5.0, 5.0a

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel, if you create a custom function that receives the Range argument, and you attempt to call that function from a Microsoft Excel 4 macro, you will receive a macro error if the Range argument is declared as type Range or Object.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, declare the argument in the function that is receiving the Range argument as type Variant.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft provides examples of Visual Basic for Applications 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. The Visual Basic procedures in this article are provided 'as is' and Microsoft does not guarantee that they can be used in all situations. While Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular macro, they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality, nor will they help you construct macros to meet your specific needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to consult one of the Microsoft Solution Providers. Solution Providers offer a wide range of fee-based services, including creating custom macros. For more information about Microsoft Solution Providers, call Microsoft Customer Information Service at (800) 426-9400.

Sample Visual Basic Code

' This function returns the address of the range
' object that is passed to it.

   Function ReturnAddress(TheRange as Range) as String
      ReturnAddress = TheRange.Address
   End Function
To call this function from a Microsoft Excel 4 macro, the first line of the function must be modified as in the following example: 

   Function ReturnAddress(TheRange as Variant) as String
The function can then be called in a Microsoft Excel 4 macro as follows: 

   =ReturnAddress(Sheet1!A1)
To call the function from a Visual Basic procedure, use code similar to the following: 

   TheAddress = ReturnAddress(Range("Sheet1!A1"))
Note that you do not need to modify the code of the original function as you do if you call the function from a Microsoft Excel 4 macro.

KBCategory: kbprg kbcode kbmacro
KBSubcategory:

Additional reference words: 5.00 5.00a 5.00c 7.00 7.00a



THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Last reviewed: September 13, 1996
©1997 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Legal Notices.