XL98: Compile Error Passing ParamArray

ID: Q184703

The information in this article applies to:


SYMPTOMS

If you are passing a ParamArray to another function, you may receive the following error:

Compile error:
Invalid ParamArray use


CAUSE

This error message may occur if both of the following conditions are true:

NOTE: If you run the same macro code in Microsoft Excel version 5.0, you will not receive the error message.

You receive the compile error because Visual Basic for Applications in Microsoft Excel 98 does not allow you to pass a ParamArray to a ByRef argument in another function.


WORKAROUND

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http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/refguide/
To work around this problem, add "ByVal" (without quotation marks) to the argument receiving the ParamArray in the function that is being called.

For example, the following macro code returns an error when you run the "Test" subroutine: 

   Sub Test()

      x = myfun(1)
      MsgBox x

   End Sub

   Function myfun(y As Integer, ParamArray myarr() As Variant) As Integer

      myfun = otherfun(y, myarr)

   End Function

   Function otherfun(y As Integer, myarr As Variant) As Integer

      otherfun = y * 2

   End Function


If you change the "otherfun" function declaration to 

   Function otherfun(y As Integer, ByVal myarr As Variant) As Integer
and run the "Test" subroutine, you get a message box with a value of 2 displayed.


STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.


MORE INFORMATION

When you have an argument in the argument list of a function and you do not specify either ByVal (by value) or ByRef (by reference), the argument will be ByRef. This is the default in Visual Basic for all variables.


REFERENCES

For more information about passing arguments, from the Visual Basic Editor, click the Office Assistant, type "passing arguments," click Search, and then click to view "Passing Arguments Efficently."

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If the Assistant is not able to answer your query, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q176476 OFF: Office Assistant Not Answering Visual Basic Questions

Additional query words: XL98 


Keywords          : kbdta kbdtacode xlvbahowto xlvbainfo OffVBA xlvbmigrate 
Version           : MACINTOSH:98
Platform          : MACINTOSH 
Issue type        : kbbug

Last Reviewed: July 6, 1999