XL98: "Type Mismatch" Comparing String Variable to Boolean (184174)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition
This article was previously published under Q184174

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition, when you run a macro that runs successfully in an earlier version of Microsoft Excel, the following error message may appear:
Run-time error '13':
Type Mismatch

CAUSE

This problem may occur when the macro compares a string variable to a Boolean variable.

In Microsoft Excel 98, a variable that you define as a string type cannot be compared to the Boolean values True or False without generating a run- time error.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, define the variable that you want to compare to a Boolean variable as Variant instead of String; a Variant variable can be compared to a Boolean variable without generating an error. For example, if the macro contains a line of code that is similar to the following 
   Dim S As String
replace it with the following line of code: 
   Dim S As Variant

STATUS

This behavior is by design of Microsoft Excel 98.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied. This includes, but is not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language that is being demonstrated and with the tools that are used to create and to debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific requirements. The following macro generates a type mismatch error in Microsoft Excel 98. However, it does not generate the error in earlier versions of Microsoft Excel: 
      Sub Macro()

      Dim S As String

      ' Prompt for the user's name and place the value in string
      ' variable S.
      S = Application.InputBox("Enter Your Name:")

      ' If user clicks Cancel in the Inputbox, S is False. If S is
      ' False, exit the procedure.
      If S = False Then
         Exit Sub
      Else
         MsgBox S
      End If

   End Sub
The previous example fails with a type mismatch error at the following line 
   If S = False Then
because the macro compares a string variable to the Boolean value False.

The following functions may return either a string or Boolean value: 
   Application.GetOpenFileName
   Application.SaveAsFileName
   Application.InputBox


To avoid the type mismatch error when you compare a variable to a Boolean value that is returned by these functions, define the variable as Variant.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:10/10/2006
Keywords:kbbug kbconversion kbdtacode kbnofix kbProgramming KB184174
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.