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Asked: 2026-05-22T02:09:21+00:00

I have a function that reads a text file containing two lines, it reads

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I have a function that reads a text file containing two lines, it reads the second line and tries to convert the string to a Long integer. My problem is that it’s not converting the string, the code for the function is as follows:

Function getLastUsed (txtFilePath)
    'Read timestamp created by full backup script
    Const ForReading = 1
    'Error Handling
    On Error Resume Next
    Err.Clear
    Set objFile = Fso.OpenTextFile(txtFilePath, ForReading)
    'Read if file was successfully opened, else return 0
    If Err.Number = 0 Then
        'Value will be on the second line, so readLine twice
        Dim valString
        valString = objFile.Readline
        valString = objFile.Readline
        objFile.Close
        'If not empty continue, else return 0
        If Not IsEmpty(valString) Then
            'Return value is IsNumeric, else return 0
            If IsNumeric(valString) Then
                Dim valInt
                valInt = CLng(valString)'<--Won't convert, variable valInt is empty after this line
                getLastUsed = valInt
            Else
                getLastUsed = 0
            End If
        Else
            getLastUsed = 0
        End If
    Else
        getLastUsed = 0
    End If
End Function

I’m using Visual Studio to step through and debug, looking at the ‘valInt’ variable, it is empty after I call CLng or CInt. However, if I hardcode a value, like valInt = CLng("18") it works fine. I’m not sure what I’m missing, any help is appreciated.

UPDATE

Ok so I tried running the script again, this time replacing the value in the text file, which was 20110511123500 to something shorter 2011 and it worked. So it seems like it was a precision issue. That leads to a second question, what’s the largest number VBScript can handle as far as conversion is concerned? The numeric value indicated is the amount of disk space on a hard drive, so I need to be able to read large numbers. Thanks for the hint Pepto.

UPDATE 2

Using double did the trick, thanks G Mastros.

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1 Answer

  1. Editorial Team

    Maximum Numeric Value Sizes Listed Below:

    Int16: -32768 to 32767

    Int32: -2147483648 to 2147483647

    Int64: -9223372036854775808 to 9223372036854775807

    Double: -1.79769313486232E+308 to 1.79769313486232E+308

    Long: -9223372036854775808 to 9223372036854775807

    Short: -32768 to 32767

    There is also in the System.Numerics namespace a new datatype introduced in .NET 4.0 called the BigInteger (System.Numerics.BigInteger) which can store incredibly large numbers.

    More info can be found here

    CDbl did the trick because the conversion required the right data type based on the numbers total size.

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