VB & VBA in a Nutshell: The Language

Spc Function

Syntax

Spc(n)

n

Use: Required

Data Type: Integer

The number of spaces required.

Return Value

A String containing n spaces.

Description

Inserts spaces between expressions in a Print # statement, Debug.Print method, or Printer.Print method.

Rules at a Glance

• Although Spc has more built-in "intelligence" than the Space function, it can be used only with the Print # statement and the Debug.Print method. For example, it isn't possible to use the Spc function to pad a fixed-length string as the Space function does. When dealing with the Printer object, far more flexibility is available by setting properties, such as CurrentX, for accurately placing text strings.

• If the width of the device being printed to is greater than n, the print position is set to be immediately after the number of spaces printed by the Spc function.

• If the width of the device being printed to is less than n, the print position is set to the current position plus the result of the formula n Mod devicewidth.

• If n is greater than the difference between the current print position and the width of the device, Spc inserts a line break and then inserts spaces in accordance with the following formula:

  n - (devicewidth - currentposition)

• When using a proportional font, the Spc function uses the average width of all characters for the particular font to determine the width of the space character to print.

• When the number of fixed-width columns is important, you should use either the Space or the Tab function, ...