Q25993: "Type Mismatch" Using PRINT VAL("100.1 %") or VAL("E%")

Article: Q25993
Product(s): See article
Version(s): 4.00 4.00b 4.50
Operating System(s): MS-DOS
Keyword(s): ENDUSER | B_BasicCom B_GWBasicI | mspl13_basic
Last Modified: 26-MAR-1990

A "Type Mismatch" error occurs for the PRINT VAL("100.0 %") statement,
because the percent (%) symbol can be appended only to integer
constants, and 100.0 is a floating-point constant. BASIC notices the
"%" symbol despite its separation with a space from the floating-point
constant 100.0.

"Type Mismatch" also properly occurs for PRINT VAL("E%") and PRINT
VAL("D%"), where "E" represents single-precision exponential notation,
and "D" represents double-precision exponential notation.

The following statements print 100.0 without error:

   PRINT VAL("100.0 *")
   PRINT VAL("100.0 !")
   PRINT VAL("100.0 #")

This behavior occurs in Microsoft QuickBASIC Versions 4.00, 4.00b,
4.50 for MS-DOS, and in Microsoft BASIC Compiler Versions 6.00 and
6.00b for MS-DOS and OS/2.

Please note that QuickBASIC Version 3.00 and Microsoft GW-BASIC
Versions 3.20, 3.22, and 3.23 fail to give an error for the statement
PRINT VAL("100.0 %").

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