vba - Excel Autofilter all but variable value -

so need filter values in row except one. got work, using part of code, filter on everything, "belgium", need there variable.

dim myvalue variant myvalue = inputbox("which country exclude? ")  range("ab1").select activesheet.range("$b$1:$by$319696").autofilter field:=27, criteria1:="<>belgium" 

for version of filter filter on particular country variable works fine:

dim myvalue variant myvalue = inputbox("which country filter on: ")  range("ab1").select activesheet.range("$b$1:$by$319696").autofilter field:=27, criteria1:= _     myvalue activewindow.smallscroll down:=-30 

so why not work:

activesheet.range("$b$1:$by$319696").autofilter field:=27, criteria1:= <>myvalue 

also not know why structured this, generated record macro, _ criteria1:= _ myvalue

the "<>" isn't operator (which how tried use in "not working" example), rather needs part of string passing autofilter (which how did in working first example.)

activesheet.range("$b$1:$by$319696").autofilter field:=27, criteria1:= "<>" & myvalue should work.