How do I get VBA to copy the MajorGridlines.Border.LineStyle into a variable

[revector]

Hi there,

I am trying to write code that will read chart properties from one chart and apply them to others. All the code is working execpt code to try to read and apply major grid line properties. I am using excel 2003 on windows XP. When I copy the "ActiveChart.Axes(xlValue).MajorGridlines.Border.LineStyle" to a variable and use a msgbox to display that variable it displays the value as "-4118" when I read it from a chart with dashed gridlines. I'm posting the code I'm trying to use. Any thoughts on what I'm doing wrong. Thanks in advance.<?xml:namespace prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" /><v:shape id=_x0000_i1025 style="WIDTH: 12pt; HEIGHT: 15.75pt" type="#_x0000_t75" alt=""><v:imagedata o:href="http://www.excelforum.com/images/smilies/confused.gif" src="file:///C:\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image001.gif"></v:imagedata></v:shape>

Code:
Dim GridlinesColour As Variant
Dim GridlinesWeight As String
Dim GridlinesLineStyle As String

Sub CollectChartPropertiesFromChart()
If ActiveChart.Axes(xlValue).HasMajorGridlines Then GridlinesColour = ActiveChart.Axes(xlValue).MajorGridlines.Border.ColorIndex
If ActiveChart.Axes(xlValue).HasMajorGridlines Then GridlinesWeight = ActiveChart.Axes(xlValue).MajorGridlines.Border.Weight
If ActiveChart.Axes(xlValue).HasMajorGridlines Then GridlinesLineStyle = ActiveChart.Axes(xlValue).MajorGridlines.Border.LineStyle
End Sub

Sub ApplyChartProperties()
If ActiveChart.Axes(xlValue).HasMajorGridlines Then ActiveChart.Axes(xlValue).MajorGridlines.Border.ColorIndex = GridlinesColour
If ActiveChart.Axes(xlValue).HasMajorGridlines Then ActiveChart.Axes(xlValue).MajorGridlines.Border.Weight = GridlinesWeight
If ActiveChart.Axes(xlValue).HasMajorGridlines Then ActiveChart.Axes(xlValue).MajorGridlines.Border.LineStyle = GridlinesLineStyle
End Sub<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>

 

[revector]

I have found a solution with the help of Shg from excelforum. Posting the solution here in case somebody else runs into the same issue. The problem was with my variable type. I had tried String and Variant as types. He suggested using XlColorIndex, XlBorderWeight and XlLineStyle wich worked like a dream. He also rewrote by code to be a bit easier to troubleshoot

Dim GridlinesColour As XlColorIndex
Dim GridlinesWeight As XlBorderWeight
Dim GridlinesLineStyle As XlLineStyle

Sub CollectChartPropertiesFromChart()
With ActiveChart.Axes(xlValue)
If .HasMajorGridlines Then
With .MajorGridlines.Border
GridlinesColour = .ColorIndex
GridlinesWeight = .Weight
GridlinesLineStyle = .LineStyle
End With
End If
End With
End Sub

Sub ApplyChartProperties()
With ActiveChart.Axes(xlValue)
If .HasMajorGridlines Then
With .MajorGridlines.Border
.ColorIndex = GridlinesColour
.Weight = GridlinesWeight
.LineStyle = GridlinesLineStyle
End With
End If
End With
End Sub