TAB

The TAB function is used in PRINT and LPRINT statements to move to a specified column position.

Syntax

TAB(column%)

Description

• Space characters are printed until the print cursor reaches the designated column%, overwriting existing characters.
• If a subsequent TAB column% is less than the current position, TAB moves the next print to that column on the next row.
• ASCII CHR$(9) can be substituted for sequencial 9 space column moves.
• Comma PRINT spacing is up to 15 column places (IE: TAB(15)) to a maximum column of 57.
• When printing to a file, a carriage return(CHR$(13)) and linefeed(CHR$(10)) character are output when it moves to the next row.
• Note: QBasic did not allow a TAB to be added to a string value. In PRINT statements the plus would be changed to a semicolon.

In QB64, TAB concatenation is allowed instead of semicolons. Example: PRINT "text" + TAB(9) + "here"

Example: Comparing TAB to comma print spacing which moves the next text print 15 columns.

PRINT TAB(15); "T" 'TAB spacing PRINT , "T" 'comma spacing PRINT TAB(15); "T"; TAB(20); "A"; TAB(15); "B" 'semicolons add nothing to position PRINT TAB(15); "T", TAB(20); "A"; TAB(15); "B" 'comma moves column position beyond 20

T T T A B T A B

Explanation: TAB moves the PRINT down to the next row when the current column position is more than the TAB position.

See also

• PRINT, LPRINT
• SPC, SPACE$
• STRING$
• CHR$, ASCII

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