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: Creating a String.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated April 17, 2021)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
What do you do if you need a string of 80 equal signs or 25 spaces? Use the String() function. This macro function is used to create strings of repeating characters. Consider the following examples:
sFirst = String(25, 32) sSecond = String(25, " ") sThird = String(80, "=") sFourth = String(20, "=*")
The first and second lines are functionally the same; they both produce a string consisting of 25 spaces. In the first example, the ANSI value of 32 is used, which is the character-code value for a space. In the third line, the sThird string will be equal to 80 equal signs.
The fourth line produces a 20-character string of equal signs. This can be a bit frustrating to programmers familiar with other implementations of BASIC, as to them the last example should create a 40-character string of alternating equal signs and asterisks. (Under older versions of BASIC, the String() function concatenates whatever you designate, so one could expect this to create a 40-character string made up of 20 iterations of "=*". Not so in VBA.)
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 (3512) 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: Creating a String.
Comprehensive VBA Guide Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is the language used for writing macros in all Office programs. This complete guide shows both professionals and novices how to master VBA in order to customize the entire Office suite for their needs. Check out Mastering VBA for Office 2010 today!
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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:
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