[RESOLVED] Converting from Decimal to Unsigned Decimal

[CatyJane]

I'm completely new to al this but I'm currently trying to calculate an equation in visual basic but I want the answer to always be positive and a decimal. This is my code so far:
[CODE]
Public Class Recycling_Cost

Private Sub btnAns_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnAns.Click
Dim sngNum1 As Single
Dim sngNum2 As Single
Dim sngNum3 As Single
Dim sngNum4 As Single
Dim sngNum5 As Single
Dim sngNum6 As Single
Dim sngNum7 As Single
Dim sngAns As ULong

sngNum1 = Val(txtNum1.Text)
sngNum2 = Val(txtNum2.Text)
sngNum3 = Val(txtNum3.Text)
sngNum4 = Val(txtNum4.Text)
sngNum5 = Val(txtNum5.Text)
sngNum6 = Val(txtNum6.Text)
sngNum7 = Val(txtNum7.Text)

sngAns = ((sngNum1 * sngNum2 - sngNum3) * sngNum4) - (sngNum5 * sngNum6 * sngNum7)

lblAns.Text = sngAns
End Sub

Can anyone tell me how to fix this?

[thetimmer]

I don't think you need the ULong. Just leave it as Single and change your calculation line to

 sngAns = System.Math.Abs(((sngNum1 * sngNum2 - sngNum3) * sngNum4) - (sngNum5 * sngNum6 * sngNum7))

I'm completely new to al this but I'm currently trying to calculate an equation in visual basic but I want the answer to always be positive and a decimal. This is my code so far:
[CODE]

Public Class Recycling_Cost

    Private Sub btnAns_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnAns.Click
        Dim sngNum1 As Single
        Dim sngNum2 As Single
        Dim sngNum3 As Single
        Dim sngNum4 As Single
        Dim sngNum5 As Single
        Dim sngNum6 As Single
        Dim sngNum7 As Single
        Dim sngAns As ULong

        sngNum1 = Val(txtNum1.Text)
        sngNum2 = Val(txtNum2.Text)
        sngNum3 = Val(txtNum3.Text)
        sngNum4 = Val(txtNum4.Text)
        sngNum5 = Val(txtNum5.Text)
        sngNum6 = Val(txtNum6.Text)
        sngNum7 = Val(txtNum7.Text)

        sngAns = ((sngNum1 * sngNum2 - sngNum3) * sngNum4) - (sngNum5 * sngNum6 * sngNum7)

        lblAns.Text = sngAns
    End Sub

Can anyone tell me how to fix this?

[thetimmer]

One last tip. If it isn't too daunting for you being that you said you're a nooby, try to follow the following code...

        If Not Single.TryParse(txtNum1.Text, sngNum1) OrElse _
             Not Single.TryParse(txtNum2.Text, sngNum2) OrElse _
             Not Single.TryParse(txtNum3.Text, sngNum3) OrElse _
             Not Single.TryParse(txtNum4.Text, sngNum4) OrElse _
             Not Single.TryParse(txtNum5.Text, sngNum5) OrElse _
             Not Single.TryParse(txtNum6.Text, sngNum6) OrElse _
             Not Single.TryParse(txtNum7.Text, sngNum7) OrElse  Then 
            MsgBox("couldn't convert all supplied values to type short")
            Exit Sub
        End If

I'm suggesting you study this because it is good practice to test each value you get out of a TextBox to ensure it can be converted to a type Single. Depending on just how new you are this may be a bit much to throw at you, if so my apologies. The

Single.TryParse

takes the values from the text box, which are type String, and tries to parse them as Singles and place the resulting values in the variables you defined (ie. sngNum2)

[CatyJane]

Thank you so much for that! It worked perfectly and now my dissertation doesn't seem so doomed. I'll have a go at the additional code you suggested too

[thetimmer]

good deal, glad to help. Please mark this thread resolved... and good luck with your dissertation.