WD97: Print # Statement Separates Fields with Spaces, Not Tabs

• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SYMPTOMS

If you use the WordBasic Print statement with commas to send tab-delimited output to a text file, the text is no longer separated by tabs when you convert and run the macro in Microsoft Word 97.

CAUSE

The Print statement in WordBasic differs from the equivalent Print # statement in Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications. In Visual Basic, you need to specify the separator by using the vbTab constant.

RESOLUTION

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   Sub MAIN
      ' Define the variables.
      item1$ = "item1"
      item2$ = "item2"
      item3$ = "item3"
      item4$ = "item4"
      ' Open the file for output.
      Open "C:\test.txt" For Output As #1
      ' Print to the output file.
      Print #1, item1$, item2$, item3$, item4$
      ' Close the output file.
      Close #1
   End Sub

   Print #1, item1$ & vbTab; item2$ & vbTab; item3$ & vbTab; item4$

MORE INFORMATION

WordBasic is the programming language included in Word for Windows 95, version 7.0 and earlier versions of Word.

REFERENCES

For more information about the Print # statement, click the Office Assistant, type "print to a file," click Search, and then click to view "Print # Statement."

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If Word Help is not installed on your computer, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q120802
   TITLE     : Office: How to Add/Remove a Single Office
               Program or Component

   ARTICLE-ID: Q163435
   TITLE     : VBA: Programming Resources for Visual Basic for
               Applications