Any API function that uses strings SHOULD have an ...A version and a ...W version. The A version is the ASCII char version, which takes in strings in which each character is 1 byte long, while W version take in UNICODE strings, in which each character is 2 bytes long. Then, in C++, microsoft will use a macro to change which function is called depending on whether you are using Unicode or not. VB probably does this too, except that it probably always uses the Unicode versions (VB strings are Unicode).

Z.