Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: Determining If the End of a Text File Has Been Reached.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated March 22, 2025)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
In other issues of WordTips you learn how to access text files from within a macro. Another command associated with sequential text files is the EOF function. If used on an open file, EOF returns a True or False condition, which indicates if the internal file pointer is located at the end of the file. This function is most often used when inputting information from a text file, as shown here:
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here:
Open "MyFile.Dat" for Input as #1
J = 0
While Not EOF(1)
J = J + 1
Line Input sMyString(J)
Wend
Note:
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (1397) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Determining If the End of a Text File Has Been Reached.
The First and Last Word on Word! Bestselling For Dummies author Dan Gookin puts his usual fun and friendly candor back to work to show you how to navigate Word 2019. Spend more time working and less time trying to figure it all out! Check out Word 2019 For Dummies today!
When processing non-document text files in a macro, you have a wide range of commands available for your use. One of ...
Discover MoreSave a document for the first time, and Word helpfully suggests a filename you can use or change. If you want this ...
Discover MoreDon't want Word to load up your HTML documents as formatted text? There are a couple of ways you can instruct Word to be ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Word that uses the menu interface (Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, or Word 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2026 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments