msoShapeOval entered in cell not allowed to be value for variable declared as MsoShapeType - excel

Question

In the attached code everything works except assigning the value to shpOval3.
I am trying to take the text from a cell and assign it to a variable declared as MsoShapeType.
1) The code misfires with Type mismatch when it attempts to assign the cell value of msoShapeOval to shpOval3 (declared as MsoShapeType).
2) If I try strOval4 (string) instead in .Shapes.AddShape(strOval4, Left, Top, Width, Height) it also misfires and says Type mismatch.
I am trying to avoid converting to an msoShapeType constant in the cell as the cell value is loaded into a combobox on a form and the value of 9 is meaningless to the users. I can convert if necessary but am looking for a solution without converting.
Sub ShpType()
Dim shpOval1 As Long
Dim shpOval2 As MsoShapeType
Dim shpOval3 As MsoShapeType
Dim strOval4 As String
Sheets("Data").Range("Company1Shape") = "msoShapeOval"
shpOval1 = msoShapeOval
shpOval2 = msoShapeOval
shpOval3 = Sheets("Data").Range("Company1Shape")
strOval4 = Sheets("Data").Range("Company1Shape")
Debug.Print "shpOval1 = "; shpOval1
Debug.Print "shpOval2 = "; shpOval2
Debug.Print Sheets("Data").Range("Company1Shape")
Debug.Print "shpOval3 = "; shpOval3
Debug.Print "strOval4 = "; strOval4
End Sub
Debugger results with shpOval3 commented out
shpOval1 = 9
shpOval2 = 9
msoShapeOval
shpOval3 = 0
strOval4 = msoShapeOval

Answer 1

You can use a Select Case statement to test your string and assign the appropriate constant to a variable declared as msoAutoShapeType...
Dim strShapeType As String
strShapeType = Sheets("Data").Range("Company1Shape")
Dim shapeType As MsoAutoShapeType
Select Case strShapeType
Case "msoShapeOval"
shapeType = msoShapeOval
Case "msoShapeRectangle"
shapeType = msoShapeRectangle
'etc
'
'
'
End Select
Hope this helps!