The only way I know is CopyMemory (API) call. Massive speed increase, but will cause problems if not done properly. You can copy either the actual data or just the memory address. It works a lot easier with doubles, integers, long. The problem with strings is VB sets a string with a vbnullstring(0 bytes), a long is 0 (1 byte) 453 is 1 byte. SO to get it to work you have to dump spaces into the string to make it have something to copy to.