Microsoft KB Archive/157351

= XL97: Compile Error Passing ParamArray =

Article ID: 157351

Article Last Modified on 11/23/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Excel 97 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q157351





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:


 * You are running your macro code in Microsoft Excel 97.

-and-
 * You are passing the ParamArray to a ByRef argument in another function.

NOTE: If you run the same macro code in Microsoft Excel versions 5.0 or 7.0, you will not receive the error message.

You receive the compile error because Visual Basic for Applications in Microsoft Excel 97 does not allow you to pass a ParamArray to a ByRef argument in another function.



RESOLUTION
Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language being demonstrated and the tools used to create and debug procedures. Microsoft support professionals 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 needs. If you have limited programming experience, you may want to contact a Microsoft Certified Partner or the Microsoft fee-based consulting line at (800) 936-5200. For more information about Microsoft Certified Partners, please visit the following Microsoft Web site:

https://partner.microsoft.com/global/30000104

For more information about the support options that are available and about how to contact Microsoft, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

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.

