OFF97: Removing Preceding Space for Values Converted to Strings

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The following macro code example converts a numeric value to a string value. The variable "lastName" is then joined with "empcode" and stored in the variable "license":

   lastName = "Peterson"
   empcode = Str(1234)
   license = lastName & empcode 'Result is: Peterson 1234
				

The following macro code example converts a numeric value to a string value, and then removes the leading space that was automatically added by Str() using the LTrim$() function. The variable "lastName" is then joined with "empcode" and stored in the variable "license":

   lastName = "Peterson"
   empcode = Str(1234)
   empcode = LTrim$(empcode)
   license = lastName & empcode 'Result is: Peterson1234
				

In Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications, you can convert numeric values to string values with the Visual Basic for Applications CStr() function. The function will drop the leading space automatically without the need for using the Trim$() function, as in the following example:

   lastName = "Peterson"
   empcode = CStr(1234)
   license = lastName & empcode 'Result is: Peterson1234
				

The Str() function is used to convert a numeric value to a string. This can be useful when using the MsgBox statement to concatenate text and a numeric variable. Note that the leading space that is generated by the Str() function makes it unnecessary to add an extra space between the two values in the MsgBox statement. For example:

   sValue = Str(457)
   MsgBox "Total sales equal" & sValue
   ' Result is: Total sales equal 457
				

The correct syntax for concatenating text and the contents of a numeric variable is as follows:

   MsgBox "Total sales equal " & 457
   ' Result is: Total sales equal 457
				

   MsgBox "Total sales equal" & Str(457)
   ' Result is: Total sales equal 457
				

   MsgBox "Total sales equal " & CStr(457)
   ' Result is: Total sales equal 457