Print # Statement

Print # filenumber, [ [{Spc(n) | Tab(n)}][ expressionlist] [{; | ,}] ]

Writes data to a sequential file.

Print statement Description:

filenumber:

Number used in an Open statement to open                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   a sequential file.  It can be any

number of an open file.  Note that the

number sign (#) preceding filenumber is not optional.

Spc(n):

Name of the Basic function optionally used to insert n spaces into the printed

output.  Multiple use is permitted.

Tab(n):

Name of the Basic function optionally used to tab to the nth column before printing

expressionlist.  Multiple use is permitted.

expressionlist :

Numeric and/or string expressions to be written to the file.

{;|,}

Character that determines the position of the next character printed. A semicolon means the next character is printed immediately after the last character; a comma means the next character is printed at the start of the next print zone.  Print zones begin every 14 columns.  If neither character is specified, the next character is printed on the next line.

If you omit expressionlist, the Print # statement prints a blank line in the file, but you must include the comma.  Because Print # writes an image of the data to the file, you must delimit the data so it is printed correctly.  If you use commas as delimiters, Print # also writes the blanks between print fields to the file.

The Print # statement usually writes Variant data to a file the same way it writes any other data type. However, there are some exceptions:

If the data being written is a Variant of VarType 0 (Empty), Print # writes nothing to the file for that data item.

If the data being written is a Variant of VarType 1 (Null), Print # writes the literal #NULL# to the file.

If the data being written is a Variant of VarType 7 (Date), Print # writes the date to the file using the Short Date format defined in the WIN.INI file.  When either the date or the time component is missing or zero, Print # writes only the part provided to the file.

The following example writes data to a test file.

Example :

Sub Main

   Dim I, FNum, FName   ' Declare variables.

   For I = 1 To 3

       FNum = FreeFile  ' Determine next file number.

       FName = "TEST" & FNum

       Open FName For Output As FNum  ' Open file.

       Print #I, "This is test #" & I ' Write string to file.

       Print #I, "Here is another ";  "line";  I

   Next I

   Close  ' Close all files.

End Sub

The following example writes data to a test file and reads it back.

Sub Main ()

   Dim FileData, Msg, NL   ' Declare variables.

   NL = Chr(10)  ' Define newline.

   Open "TESTFILE" For Output As #1  ' Open to write file.

   Print #2, "This is a test of the Print # statement."

   Print #2,     ' Print blank line to file.

   Print #2, "Zone 1", "Zone 2"   ' Print in two print zones.

   Print #2, "With no space between"  ;  "." ' Print two strings together.

   Close

   Open "TESTFILE" for Input As #2   ' Open to read file.

   Do While Not EOF(2)

       Line Input #2, FileData ' Read a line of data.

       Msg = Msg & FileData & NL  ' Construct message.

       MsgBox Msg

   Loop

   Close     ' Close all open files.

   MsgBox "Testing Print Statement"  ' Display message.

   Kill "TESTFILE"  ' Remove file from disk.

End Sub