Is it not possible within a COM server to change the data type of a variable passed by reference?
For Example,

PROCEDURE oComObject.GetSomething
 LPARAMETERS tuVar

 tuVar = 9

 Return llSuccess
ENDPROC

In the calling procedure:

lcVar = ''
oComObject.GetSomething(@lcVar)

Prior to calling the method, lcVar is an empty string.
After calling this method, lcVar is STILL of character type, now containg the value '9'. Can you not change the data type of the By Ref. variable?

TIA,
Jon