VBScript in a Nutshell

Name

LTrim Function

Syntax

LTrim(stringexp)

stringexp

Use: Required

Data Subtype: String

A valid string expression.

Return Value

A Variant of subtype String.

Description

Removes any leading spaces from stringexp.

Rules at a Glance

• LTrim returns a variant of subtype String.

• If stringexp contains a Null, LTrim returns Null.

Programming Tips & Gotchas

• Unless you need to keep trailing spaces, it’s best to use the Trim function, which is the equivalent of LTrim(RTrim( string )). This allows you to remove both leading and trailing spaces in a single function call.

• Although we have seen it done, it’s extremely unwise to create data relationships that rely on leading spaces. Most string-based datatypes in relational database management systems like SQL Server and Access automatically remove leading spaces.

VB/VBA Differences

VBScript does not support the VBA LTrim$ function.

See Also

RTrim Function, Trim Function