XL2000: "Type Mismatch" Comparing String Variable to Boolean (213589)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Excel 2000
This article was previously published under Q213589

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Excel 2000, when you run a macro that runs successfully in Microsoft Excel 95 or earlier, you may receive the following error message:
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, 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.

This behavior is by design of Microsoft Excel.

WORKAROUND

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

replace it with the following line: 
   Dim S As Variant

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 2000. However, it does not generate the error in Microsoft Excel 95 or earlier: 
   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 returned from these functions, define the variable as Variant.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:10/10/2006
Keywords:kbdtacode kberrmsg kbprb kbProgramming KB213589
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