Home > CBM > BASIC > Keywords > Tab
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KeywordAbbreviationToken (hex)Version(s)Classification
TAB(T{Shift+A}A31.0+Preposition
Note the Keyword includes an open parentheses "(".

  Syntax  
CMD fileNumber [ , [ { , | ; } ] ... [ { expression  | TAB(n) | SPC(n) } [ { , | ; } [ { expression | TAB(n) | SPC(n) } ] ] ... ] ]
 ~ or ~
PRINT [ { , | ; } ] ... [ { expression |  TAB(n) | SPC(n) } [ { , | ; } [ { expression | TAB(n) | SPC (n) } ] ] ... ]
 ~ or ~
PRINT# fileNumber [ , [ { , | ; } ] ... [ { expression  | TAB(n) | SPC(n) } [ { , | ; } [ { expression | TAB(n) | SPC(n) } ] ] ... ] ]

ParametersTypeLegal Value(s)Default ValueNote(s)
fileNumberNumeric 0 ~ 255  Must be an OPEN'd file 
expressionany
any
 
 
nNumeric 0 ~ 255   

 
Purpose  
Align the "print column" in BASIC output.

 
Remarks  
TAB is an interesting preposition; it appears like a function, but it is not a real function -- it may only be used as a preposition (with PRINT[#] or CMD).

When the output is to the screen, TAB will "print" one or more "cursor right"(s) (code 29) such that the next expression starts at the (0-based) column n.  If the value of n is not legal (see above) then an ILLEGAL QUANTITY ERROR is generated.  If the output has already exceeded column n then no "cursror rights" are output.  Note the TAB preposition works well with the screen (because the system always knows the on-screen cursor position) but does nothing when output is to another device!

TAB is not valid with USING.

TAB updates the "public" variable which controls the text cursor position.  It is "public" because its value may be read with the POS function.  Although the horizontal (column) position is "public", the related vertical (row) position is a secret variable!


Examples:
PRINT "HELLO";"WORLD"
HELLOWORLD  

READY.
PRINT "HELLO";SPC(8);"WORLD"
HELLO        WORLD 

READY.
PRINT "HELLO";TAB(8);"WORLD"
HELLO   WORLD 

READY.

 
Compare With  
CHAR, LOCATE, GOTO,  MOVSPR, RECORD, RESTORE,  SPC

 
Contrast With  
EL, INSTR, JOY, PEN, POINTER, POS, POT, RDOT, RSPPOS

 
See Also  
CMD, PRINT, PRINT#


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