Variant Type

Variant variables are capable of storing values that change type dynamically. Variables of any other type (Integer, String, Date, etc.) are statically bound to that type but a variable of the Variant type can assume values of differing types at runtime.

You would use a Variant in situations where the actual type of your data is unknown at compile-time. This is a common situation when writing applications that use COM objects.

Variants have the following characteristics:

• Variants can contain Integer, Number, Real, Boolean, Date, Time, TimeSpan, DateTime, String, RowId, Handle and IDispatch pointer values.
• The special Variant value OLE_VT_EMPTY is used to indicate that a Variant has not yet been assigned any value. Variant.pkg must be Used to use OLE_VT_EMPTY.
• Variants can be combined with other Variants and Integer, String, Boolean etc. values in an expression. The DataFlex expression evaluator will automatically perform the necessary type conversions.
• When a Variant contains a reference to a COM Object (IDispatch*), then it automatically performs reference counting for the referenced object.

Note

For more information, refer to Declaring Variables  the Variant command and Using Variant Data Types with COM.