ini file problems

I always used the Get & WritePrivateProfileString to write and read ini files, but today when i wrote a new line of code using the same old line i always used i got a weird error massage:
compile error: type-decleration character does not match declared data type.
what is the problem?

this is the line its the same as i always used:

inipath$ = App.Path & "\file.ini"
If Dir(inipath$, vbNormal) = "" Then
rc% = WritePrivateProfileString("Database", "Path", "", inipath$)
'read
lngResult = GetPrivateProfileString("Database", "Path", inipath$, strResult, Len(strResult), inipath$)
DBPath = Trim(strResult)

this got something to do with the $ sign but now it seems that the entire program cant deal with this sign, and it worked before, and its working in another program i wrote...
when taking off the $ the program works but you cant read the ini file just write it..

..thanks..