The [[WRITE (file statement)|WRITE #]] file statement writes a list of comma separated variable values to a sequential file or port.


{{PageSyntax}}
:{{KW|WRITE (file statement)|WRITE #}}{{Parameter|filenumber&}}[, {{Parameter|expressionList}}]


{{PageDescription}}
* {{Parameter|filenumber&}} is the number of the file or device {{KW|OPEN}}ed in the {{KW|OUTPUT}} or {{KW|APPEND}} modes. See: {{KW|FREEFILE}}.
* {{Parameter|expressionList}} is a comma-separated list of values to be written to the file or device.
* WRITE can place any number and types of variable values needed in a file record separated by commas.
* String values will have quotation marks although quotes are not required to read strings in CSV files with [[INPUT (file statement)|INPUT]] #.
* Data files using WRITE normally will have the same number of values listed on each file line.
* Data containing commas must be in quotation marks. Number commas are illegal!
* WRITE created files are normally read with INPUT #.
* CSV files created can be read by Excel using a .CSV file name extension. Strings may or may not include quotation marks.
* [[Semicolon]]s cannot be used in or following the WRITE statement!


''Example:'' Writes new data to a text file sequentially and reads it back to the program screen.
{{CodeStart}} '' ''
filename$ = "testfile.dat" 
x = 1: y = 2: z$ = "Three" 

{{Cl|OPEN}} filename$ {{Cl|FOR...NEXT|FOR}} {{Cl|OUTPUT}} {{Cl|AS}} #1 'opens and clears an existing file or creates new empty file 

{{Cl|WRITE (file statement)|WRITE}} #1, x, y, z$ 

{{Cl|CLOSE}} #1 

{{Cl|PRINT}} "File created with data. Press a key!" 

K$ = {{Cl|INPUT$}}(1) 'press a key 

{{Cl|OPEN}} filename$ {{Cl|FOR (file statement)|FOR}} {{Cl|INPUT (file mode)|INPUT}} {{Cl|AS}} #2 'opens a file to read it 

{{Cl|INPUT (file statement)|INPUT}} #2, a, b, c$ 

{{Cl|CLOSE}} #2 

{{Cl|PRINT}} a, b, c$
{{Cl|WRITE}} a, b, c$ 

{{Cl|END}} '' ''
{{CodeEnd}}
: ''File content:'' [[WRITE]] string values will include quotation marks, but they are not required to read the file.
{{TextStart}}1,2,"Three" '' '' {{TextEnd}}
: ''Screen output:'' [[PRINT]] string values will not display enclosing quotes. [[WRITE]] screen displays will.
{{OutputStart}} 1           2          Three
1,2,"Three"
{{OutputEnd}}


{{PageSeeAlso}}
* [[PRINT (file statement)|PRINT #]]
* [[INPUT (file statement)|INPUT #]]
* [[LINE INPUT (file statement)|LINE INPUT #]]
* [[SQL Client]] {{text|(library)}}


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