Q22022: PRINT Forces Contiguous String to Next Row & Doesn’t Wrap It

Article: Q22022
Product(s): See article
Version(s): 2.00 2.01 3.00 4.00 4.00b 4.50
Operating System(s): MS-DOS
Keyword(s): ENDUSER | B_GWBasicI B_BasicCom | mspl13_basic
Last Modified: 19-JAN-1990

The PRINT statement displays a contiguous string constant on the next
row below the current print position (without breaking or wrapping the
string) if printing it from the current screen column exceeds the 80th
column.

This behavior is by design. You will need to break the string into a
piece small enough to fit within the space before the 80th column to
avoid forcing the whole string to the next line (see example below).

This standard behavior occurs in most retail Microsoft BASIC versions
for MS-DOS, including the following products:

1. QuickBASIC Compiler (Versions 2.00, 2.01, 3.00, 4.00, 4.00b,
   and 4.50) for MS-DOS

2. Microsoft BASIC Compiler Versions 6.00 and 6.00b for MS-DOS and
   OS/2

3. Microsoft BASIC Professional Development System (PDS) Version 7.00
   for MS-DOS and OS/2

4. GW-BASIC Versions 3.20, 3.22, and 3.23

The following is a code example:

   5  CLS
   10 LOCATE 1,1    ' LOCATEs in column 1.
   20 PRINT "LOCATED ON ROW 1, THIS STRING STAYS ON ROW 1."
   30 LOCATE 2,70    ' LOCATEs in column 70, leaving no room.
   40 PRINT "DESPITE BEING LOCATED ON ROW 2, THIS PRINTS ON ROW 3"
   50 LOCATE 4,71   ' To make it wrap, break up the string as follows:
   60 PRINT "1234567890";"THIS STARS IN COLUMN 1"

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