Identifying data types

This article is based on Visual Basic 6. Find other Visual Basic 6 articles.

You can use the VB built in TypeName function described below to obtain more exact information on a variable type. This function returns the type of a variable. Doesn't work for all possible declarations to a variable, but with all the common ones.

Please do note: It is a very healthy practice to actually not need this method. Carefully plan and organize your code to hold the correct variable type for the specific purpose. Consider the limits that the variable may need to step over at a certain time, and plan ahead.

If you do not know about the multiple data types, please consult this page on Data types

Start a new project and paste the code below as Form1 code to illustrate the example.

Private Sub Form_Load()
Dim var1 As Boolean     'declare a boolean variable
Dim var2 As Integer     'declare an integer variable
Dim var3 As Byte        'declare a byte variable

  Form1.AutoRedraw = True     'setting this to true just so that .print will be visible
  Form1.Print TypeName(var1)    'Get the type for var1
  Form1.Print TypeName(var2)    'Get the type for var2
  Form1.Print TypeName(var3)    'Get the type for var3
End Sub