Best way to return a value from a function?

[XmisterIS]

I am very new to VBA, and I wanted to perform the painfully simple task of returning a value from a function. After a lot of searching, the only way I've found to do it is like this:

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I've been programming in a number of different languages for years, and never in my born days have I seen anything like that!!

And this gives "syntax error":

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Please can someone explain why VBA works like that? Although it seems crazy, I am sure there's a logical reason for it. IME, there are usually logical explanations for things which, at first sight, seem nuts!

[polooop]

I think the second method (C like) would have worked in previous excel's versions. No longer.

[Norie]

Why does it seem nuts?

I've seen both methods used in different languages.

[XmisterIS]

Why does it seem nuts?

I've seen both methods used in different languages.

I'd be interested to know which other languages the VBA method is used it. I've coded PHP, C, C++, Java, Javascript, Python and F77 and I've never seen it.

The main problem that I see with it is that if you want to change the function name, you have to change it in two places. If you use the Return syntax, then the name need only be changed in one place.

[Izandol]

Return is used to branch back to procedure from GoSub statement.

[Norie]

Admittedly there aren't many that use the exact same syntax, off the top of my head I can think of Pascal and VBS.

There are languages that don't require the use of return, for example Ruby where the value from the last evaluated expression is returned if return is omitted.

Perhaps the reason VBA doesn't use it is because it already uses Return with GoSub?

[Izandol]

VB 3/4/5/6 also.

[slx]

I'd be interested to know which other languages the VBA method is used it. I've coded PHP, C, C++, Java, Javascript, Python and F77 and I've never seen it.

The main problem that I see with it is that if you want to change the function name, you have to change it in two places. If you use the Return syntax, then the name need only be changed in one place.

Every time i need to major an important change to a keyword, i use replace in the text editor of the programming tool.

[MrShorty]

I probably shouldn't even venture into this one. Being more mathematician/scientist, I am not the most experienced programmer.

I'd be interested to know which other languages the VBA method is used it. I've coded PHP, C, C++, Java, Javascript, Python and F77 and I've never seen it.

I find it interesting that you have not seen this in Fortran. While I almost certainly do not have the experience you have, my experience is that Fortran, like VBA, uses this same strategy for returning values from Functions. A sample Fortran function from Fortran 77 with Numerical Methods for Engineers and Scientists by D. M. Etter:

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I cannot speak to the philosophy behind this strategy for returning values, but it seems to be the common strategy in the few languages I'm familiar with. I tend to just chalk it up to the nuances of going from one language to another -- each language has its language specific syntax that just has to be lived with.