Comparing strings not working

I've hit a brick wall

Reduced to the simplest terms, when I code If "04148" < "3" I get a true response. If 04148 < 3 gives me a false response.

My actual code uses String variables that contain those values, and I do need to compare them as a/n strings.
I am reading though the files in a folder, and I want to loop until while the file name in the folder is < a value in a variable. The directory lists the "3" first because it is < "04148" but a Do While, or If disagrees.

How do I get this to work?

Yes, I see your point. As a/n values, it seem to left justify the contents and look at them as "3bbbb" and "04148". However, I still need them in the sequence as they are in the directory.

When I'm done with the project, it may not be a problem because the real world file names are all in the format nnnnn-nnnn.csv. All being the same size. It's just that I'm doing this project for a friend and I'd want it to still work if he changes the file name format, which he probably won't.

I found a way around it. testfield = Format("3", "@@@@@") right justifies "3" in the variable testfield. That makes "3" < "04148" (tested). However after giving some more thought to what I described as the real world file in my last reply, I think I can count on the file name format being stable and just compare the values as they are.

Thanks for the replies.