returning vars

[drewdaman]

so, my next question is a very fundamental question, and when i google it, i get weird results making me think that it might not be possible.. but that also seems strange!

how can you return a value from a function? so far, since i couldn't find the syntax to do it, i have been passing variables by reference and modifying them. can someone please show me the syntax to return a variable?

c++:
rettype funcname (params){
rettype a;
//operations;
return a;
}

i'm not sure how to state teh function should return this type of value, and what the syntax for returning is... when i google, i just keep getting a whole bunch of stuff on return on investment.. and nothing on returning variables.

 

[PHV]

Function myFunction(...) As SomeType
....
myFunction = someValue
End Function

Hope This Helps, PH.
Want to get great answers to your Tek-Tips questions? Have a look at FAQ219-2884 or FAQ181-2886

 

[drewdaman]

oh jeez... i'm such a newbie!

it seems that a function can return a value and a sub cannot. is that correct? are there any other differences between subs and functions that i should keep in mind while choosing to use one or the other?

thanks!

 

[rmikesmith]

Technically, a Sub does not return a value. However, as you have already discovered, you can have a Sub modify a parameter passed ByRef and your calling procedure will "see" this value.


Regards,
Mike

 

[drewdaman]

thanks!

i just read soemwhere that there is one thing that functions can't do and that subs can do.. i didn't quite understand that and i was hoping you could shed some light on this:

That’s it, [functions] just return a value. That means that they can’t modify the user interface like a Sub can. They can’t, for instance, write a value to a cell EXCEPT for the cell in which they’re entered.

 

[rmikesmith]

In other words, a VBA function used on a worksheet cannot make any changes to other user interface elements (cells, worksheets, etc.). All it is allowed to do is return a value to the cell that references it.


Mike

 

[PHV]

This limitation is only for functions called in a cell formula.

Hope This Helps, PH.
Want to get great answers to your Tek-Tips questions? Have a look at FAQ219-2884 or FAQ181-2886

 

[xlbo]

Functions in a module that are called from code can change anything they want - but they don't show up in the Macros dialog box

Rgds, Geoff

Three things are certain. Death, taxes and lost data. DPlank is to blame

Please read FAQ222-2244 before you ask a question

 

[drewdaman]

thanks! that clears things up! will get back with more questions when i have them! thanks everyone for your help