Fix Function

Returns the integer portion of a number.

Syntax

Fix(number)

Parameters

• number (Required): Any valid numeric expression. If number contains Null, Null is returned

Return Value

Returns the integer portion of a number: - For positive numbers: Returns the largest integer less than or equal to number - For negative numbers: Returns the first negative integer greater than or equal to number - If number is Null: Returns Null - Return type matches the input type (Integer, Long, Single, Double, Currency, Decimal)

Remarks

The Fix function truncates toward zero:

• Removes the fractional part of a number
• Always truncates toward zero (removes decimal without rounding)
• For positive numbers, behaves like Int (same result)
• For negative numbers, different from Int (Int rounds down, Fix truncates)
• Fix(-8.4) returns -8, Int(-8.4) returns -9
• Fix(8.4) returns 8, Int(8.4) returns 8
• Does not round to nearest integer (use Round for rounding)
• The return type preserves the input numeric type
• More intuitive for most developers (truncation toward zero)
• Commonly used when you want to discard fractional parts
• For financial calculations, consider using Round or CCur instead

Typical Uses

1. Truncate Decimals: Remove fractional part without rounding
2. Integer Conversion: Convert floating-point to integer values
3. Financial Calculations: Remove cents from currency values
4. Data Normalization: Ensure whole number values
5. Display Formatting: Show only whole number portion
6. Loop Bounds: Convert float bounds to integers
7. Array Indices: Ensure valid integer indices
8. Coordinate Processing: Truncate pixel coordinates

Basic Usage Examples

' Example 1: Truncate positive number
Dim result As Integer
result = Fix(8.7)
Debug.Print result  ' Prints: 8

' Example 2: Truncate negative number
Dim result As Integer
result = Fix(-8.7)
Debug.Print result  ' Prints: -8 (truncates toward zero, not down)

' Example 3: Remove cents from currency
Dim price As Currency
Dim dollars As Currency
price = 19.99
dollars = Fix(price)
Debug.Print dollars  ' Prints: 19

' Example 4: Ensure integer for array index
Dim index As Long
Dim ratio As Double
ratio = 4.7
index = Fix(ratio)
value = items(index)

Common Patterns

' Pattern 1: Truncate toward zero
Function Truncate(value As Double) As Long
Truncate = Fix(value)
End Function

' Pattern 2: Get whole dollars from currency
Function GetWholeDollars(amount As Currency) As Long
GetWholeDollars = Fix(amount)
End Function

' Pattern 3: Get cents from currency
Function GetCents(amount As Currency) As Long
Dim wholeDollars As Currency
wholeDollars = Fix(amount)
GetCents = Fix((amount - wholeDollars) * 100)
End Function

' Pattern 4: Split number into whole and fractional parts
Sub SplitNumber(value As Double, ByRef wholePart As Long, ByRef fractionalPart As Double)
wholePart = Fix(value)
fractionalPart = value - wholePart
End Sub

' Pattern 5: Ensure positive truncation
Function TruncatePositive(value As Double) As Long
' Fix truncates toward zero
' For negative values, this gives different result than Int
TruncatePositive = Fix(Abs(value)) * Sgn(value)
End Function

' Pattern 6: Convert to integer without rounding
Function ToIntegerNoRound(value As Double) As Long
ToIntegerNoRound = Fix(value)
End Function

' Pattern 7: Remove decimal places for display
Function FormatWholeNumber(value As Double) As String
FormatWholeNumber = CStr(Fix(value))
End Function

' Pattern 8: Calculate whole units
Function GetWholeUnits(quantity As Double) As Long
GetWholeUnits = Fix(quantity)
End Function

' Pattern 9: Truncate time to hours
Function GetWholeHours(timeValue As Double) As Long
Dim hours As Double
hours = timeValue * 24  ' Convert days to hours
GetWholeHours = Fix(hours)
End Function

' Pattern 10: Floor for positive, ceiling for negative
Function TruncateTowardZero(value As Double) As Long
' Fix already does this
TruncateTowardZero = Fix(value)
End Function

Advanced Usage Examples

' Example 1: Currency formatter class
Public Class CurrencyFormatter
Public Function FormatAsDollarsAndCents(amount As Currency) As String
Dim dollars As Long
Dim cents As Long

dollars = Fix(amount)
cents = Fix(Abs((amount - dollars) * 100))

FormatAsDollarsAndCents = "$" & dollars & "." & _
Format$(cents, "00")
End Function

Public Function GetDollarPart(amount As Currency) As Long
GetDollarPart = Fix(amount)
End Function

Public Function GetCentPart(amount As Currency) As Long
Dim dollars As Currency
dollars = Fix(amount)
GetCentPart = Fix(Abs((amount - dollars) * 100))
End Function

Public Function RoundToDollars(amount As Currency) As Currency
RoundToDollars = Fix(amount)
End Function
End Class

' Example 2: Number splitter utility
Public Class NumberSplitter
Private m_wholePart As Long
Private m_fractionalPart As Double

Public Sub Split(value As Double)
m_wholePart = Fix(value)
m_fractionalPart = value - m_wholePart
End Sub

Public Property Get WholePart() As Long
WholePart = m_wholePart
End Property

Public Property Get FractionalPart() As Double
FractionalPart = m_fractionalPart
End Property

Public Property Get HasFraction() As Boolean
HasFraction = (m_fractionalPart <> 0)
End Property

Public Function Reconstruct() As Double
Reconstruct = m_wholePart + m_fractionalPart
End Function
End Class

' Example 3: Data truncator for normalization
Public Class DataTruncator
Public Function TruncateArray(values() As Double) As Long()
Dim result() As Long
Dim i As Long

ReDim result(LBound(values) To UBound(values))

For i = LBound(values) To UBound(values)
result(i) = Fix(values(i))
Next i

TruncateArray = result
End Function

Public Function TruncateToInteger(value As Double) As Long
TruncateToInteger = Fix(value)
End Function

Public Function TruncateCollection(values As Collection) As Collection
Dim result As New Collection
Dim value As Variant

For Each value In values
If IsNumeric(value) Then
result.Add Fix(CDbl(value))
Else
result.Add value
End If
Next value

Set TruncateCollection = result
End Function
End Class

' Example 4: Coordinate truncator
Public Class CoordinateTruncator
Public Sub TruncatePoint(x As Double, y As Double, _
ByRef truncX As Long, ByRef truncY As Long)
truncX = Fix(x)
truncY = Fix(y)
End Sub

Public Function TruncateRectangle(left As Double, top As Double, _
right As Double, bottom As Double) As Variant
Dim coords(0 To 3) As Long

coords(0) = Fix(left)
coords(1) = Fix(top)
coords(2) = Fix(right)
coords(3) = Fix(bottom)

TruncateRectangle = coords
End Function

Public Function GetPixelCoordinate(value As Double) As Long
GetPixelCoordinate = Fix(value)
End Function
End Class

Error Handling

The Fix function can raise errors or return Null:

• Type Mismatch (Error 13): If number is not a numeric expression
• Invalid use of Null (Error 94): If number is Null and result is assigned to non-Variant
• Overflow (Error 6): If result exceeds the range of the target data type

On Error GoTo ErrorHandler
Dim result As Long
Dim value As Double

value = -12.75
result = Fix(value)

Debug.Print "Truncated value: " & result  ' Prints: -12
Exit Sub

ErrorHandler:
MsgBox "Error in Fix: " & Err.Description, vbCritical

Performance Considerations

• Fast Operation: Fix is a very fast built-in function
• Type Preservation: Return type matches input type
• No Rounding: Faster than Round (simple truncation)
• Alternative: For floor operation, use Int (rounds down)
• Currency: More intuitive than Int for currency truncation

Best Practices

1. Understand Difference: Know that Fix truncates toward zero, Int rounds down
2. Negative Numbers: Be aware Fix(-8.7) = -8, Int(-8.7) = -9
3. Currency Operations: Fix is more intuitive for removing cents
4. Type Awareness: Be aware of return type matching input type
5. Null Handling: Use Variant if input might be Null
6. No Rounding: Use Round if you need rounding, not truncation
7. Documentation: Comment when Fix vs Int choice matters

Comparison with Other Functions

• Available in all VB6 versions
• Consistent behavior across platforms
• Return type matches input numeric type
• Truncates toward zero (like C/C++/Java integer truncation)
• More intuitive than Int for most developers from other languages

Limitations

• Does not round to nearest (use Round for that)
• Behavior with negative numbers differs from Int
• Return type depends on input type (can cause overflow)
• Cannot specify decimal places (always removes all decimals)
• No control over rounding direction (always toward zero)

Related Functions

• Int: Returns Integer portion, rounding down (floor)
• Round: Rounds to nearest integer or specified decimal places
• CInt: Converts to Integer with rounding
• CLng: Converts to Long with rounding
• Abs: Absolute value (often used with Fix)
• Sgn: Sign of number (often used with Fix)