VB6 overflow error with large integers

Question

I am trying to set an integer value as such:

Dim intID as integer
intID = x * 10000

This works ok when x is 3 or less. But when x is 4, this gives me the error:

run-time error 6 Overflow

I don't understand why this is. I can set intID to 40000 directly without any problems, so it's obviously capable of storing large numbers.

Solution 1

You *cannot set a vb6 integer to 40000 as they are signed 16 bit numbers so +32767 is the maximum.

Long is the 32 bit type.

However as a caveat, if you were to:

Dim lngID As Long
lngID = 4 * 10000

You would still get an overflow as literal numbers default to Integer, to correct that just type one as long with & or cast one as long using CLng():

Dim lngID As Long
lngID = 4 * 10000&
lngID = 4 * CLng(10000)

Update:

Solution 2

in VB6, the Integer type is a whole number which ranges from -32768 to 32767.

You would be best using the Long type here.

Comments

[Alex K.]

In vb6, Dim intID as integer: intID = 40000 will error 100% of the time

[Alex K.]

Because 3 * 10000 fits in an integer (its < 32767), 4 * 10000 does not

[AakashM]

@Urbycoz the great majority of your questions have been about VB.NET . For the avoidance of any doubt, could you confirm that you are definitely seeing this behaviour in VB6 ?

[Urbycoz]

Yes, it's definitely VB6. I'll post a screenshot.

[Urbycoz]

@Alex- You're right. It's behaving as you say for me now. Not sure what changed. Thanks for your help!

[Rahul Vishwakarma]

Please explain your answer. You have simply posted the code.

[Uttam Kumar Roy]

In VB Integer variable range is -32,768 to 32,767 If any variable value is more than this range in your program,you have to declare Data type Long instead of Integer.Thanks.

[Contango]

Hi @Always Beginner, welcome to Stack Overflow. You are right, the correct way to solve this is to use a long instead of an int. Thank you for providing this answer.