OFF2000: Removing Leading Space for Values Converted to String

The Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications Str() function returns the string representation of a numeric value represented as (n). Positive numbers and zeros are converted to a string with a leading space character.

This article discusses methods that can be used to remove the leading space for values converted to strings.

Microsoft provides programming examples for illustration only, without warranty either expressed or implied. This includes, but is not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. This article assumes that you are familiar with the programming language that is being demonstrated and with the tools that are used to create and to debug procedures. Microsoft support engineers can help explain the functionality of a particular procedure, but they will not modify these examples to provide added functionality or construct procedures to meet your specific requirements. 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 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

-or-

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

-or-

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