DOCUMENT:Q165920 11-JAN-2001 [vbwin] TITLE :PRB: Correct Usage of "&" and "AND" in Visual Basic PRODUCT :Microsoft Visual Basic for Windows PROD/VER:WINDOWS:4.0,5.0,6.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbGrpDSVB ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Visual Basic Learning Edition for Windows, versions 5.0, 6.0 - Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows, versions 5.0, 6.0 - Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows, versions 5.0, 6.0 - Microsoft Visual Basic Standard Edition, 32-bit, for Windows, version 4.0 - Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition, 16-bit, for Windows, version 4.0 - Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition, 32-bit, for Windows, version 4.0 - Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition, 16-bit, for Windows, version 4.0 - Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition, 32-bit, for Windows, version 4.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== This code works in Visual Basic 3.0: If Form1.Text1.Text = "" & Form1.Text2.Text = "" Then... but fails in Visual Basic 4.0 and later with a "type mismatch" error. The correct syntax for this statement is: If Form1.Text1.Text = "" And Form1.Text2.Text = "" Then... Confusing the concatenation operator "&" with the logical operator "AND" will result in "type mismatch errors." CAUSE ===== This is a result of the data type of (Boolean) being added to Visual Basic 4.0 and later. RESOLUTION ========== When performing logical comparisons between operands, be sure to use the logical operators (AND, OR) as opposed to the concatenation operator "&" in Visual Basic 4.0. STATUS ====== This is by design. MORE INFORMATION ================ In Visual Basic 3.0, a logical comparison between operands would result in either a 1 or a 0 being returned. With Visual Basic 4.0 and later, a logical data type has been added so that a logical comparison between two operands will result in either a "TRUE" or "FALSE" value being returned. Attempting to use the concatenation operator "&" can not be performed in Visual Basic 4.0 and later on these logical data types. Therefore, an error is raised. Additional query words: kbVBp kbdsd kbDSupport kbVBA kbVBp400 kbVBp500 kbVBp600 ====================================================================== Keywords : kbGrpDSVB Technology : kbVBSearch kbAudDeveloper kbZNotKeyword6 kbZNotKeyword2 kbVB500Search kbVB600Search kbVBA500 kbVBA600 kbVB500 kbVB600 kbVB400Search kbVB400 kbVB16bitSearch Version : WINDOWS:4.0,5.0,6.0 Issue type : kbprb ============================================================================= 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. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.