WRITE integer-variable, printable

Writes text to an open file.
The first parameter must be an integer variable containing a file handle obtained from OPENOUT or OPENUP. The second parameter, printable, follows the same formatting semantics as PRINT.

Formatting semantics (same as PRINT)

You may pass strings and numeric expressions; numbers are converted to text.
Multiple items can be separated by ; or ,:
- ; writes the next item immediately with no extra spacing.
- , advances to the next print zone (tab stop) before writing the next item. This inserts spaces, not a literal comma.
If the line does not end with ; or ,, a newline is written automatically.
To control line endings explicitly (for example CRLF), append them yourself with CHR$(13) + CHR$(10).

Note: A comma in WRITE does not emit the character ,.; If you want actual commas (for CSV), include them in the string:; basic @note WRITE FH, "A,B,C" @note; To include a double quote inside a string, insert it with CHR$(34):; basic @note WRITE FH, CHR$(34) + "quoted" + CHR$(34) @note

Examples

Create a file and write two lines

FH = OPENOUT("log.txt")
WRITE FH, "Hello"
WRITE FH, "World"
CLOSE FH

Build a line without the implicit newline, then add CRLF

FH = OPENOUT("proto.txt")
WRITE FH, "USER ";
WRITE FH, "guest";
WRITE FH, CHR$(13) + CHR$(10)
CLOSE FH

Numbers and strings together

FH = OPENOUT("stats.txt")
WRITE FH, "X="; 42; " Y="; 99
CLOSE FH

Avoid print zones when you mean CSV

FH = OPENOUT("data.csv")
REM not: WRITE FH, "alpha", "beta", "gamma"
WRITE FH, "alpha,beta,gamma"
CLOSE FH

Error handling around a write

ON ERROR PROCfile_err
FH = OPENOUT("out.txt")
WRITE FH, "line"
CLOSE FH
END
 
DEF PROCfile_err
    PRINT "Write failed: "; ERR$
ENDPROC

Notes

integer-variable must be a variable holding a valid handle; do not pass a literal or expression.
After CLOSE, the handle is invalid for further WRITE calls.
WRITE does not flush independently; closing the handle ensures data is written.

See also:
PRINT · OPENOUT · OPENUP · CLOSE