First time text file read/write user...vb6

A few comments on Brian's answer:

1) You should use "Write" instead of "Print" to output comma separated values. e.g.:
Dim iOne as integer, iTwo as integer, iThree as String
iOne=1
iTwo=12
iThree="A"
...
Write #intFileHandle, iOne,iTwo,iThree
...
Gives this output:
1,12,A

etc.


2) You should then use "Input" not "Line Input" to read the comma separated values:
Dim xOne as integer, xTwo as integer, xThree as String
...
Input #intFileHandle, xOne,xTwo,xThree
...

This reads each separated value into the specified variables...

You don't have to use Write instead of Print -- if you use Write, it will enclose all text strings in "quote marks" and all dates in #hashes#.  This can be useful, as it eliminates the error that will occur in a CSV if text you want to write contains commas and allows you to put date values straight into a Date variable, but may not be what you want.  Print is a WYSIWYG output system.

Similarly, you don't have to use Input instead of Line Input.  Input will read until it reaches a comma or a new line.  Line Input will read until it reaches a new line only.  You can use Line Input to read the whole line and split this line with thisArray = Split(strLineJustRead, ","), to get comma-separated values in one chunk.

Personally, if I'm writing a CSV-style flat file, I prefer to use a different delimeter, such as pipe (|) -- this prevents the CSV being confused by any commas that may be deliberately in the text, e.g.

    Print #filenum, "this text, here, has a comma|54455|223"

Another thing to note is, when writing multiple data items to the file, if you don't want to insert a new line, follow your Print line with a semicolon (;), e.g.:

    Print #filenum, "I want the text in this string to be on the same line -> ";
    Print #filenum, myString;
    Print #filenum, " But I want a new line now."             'NO ; MOVES TO NEW LINE

The Open/Close method is an older method -- it is often favourable to use the object orientated approach, nowadays.  To do this, add a reference to the Microsoft Scripting Runtime (you don't have to but it makes life so much easier) and try the following (converting brianb99999's code, from above):

    Dim oFSO As New Scripting.FileSystemObject
    Dim oTS As Scripting.File
    Dim strRetp As String

    '''' READ ROUTINE ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
    Set oTS = oFSO.OpenTextFile("x:\mypath\myfile.ext", ForReading)

          Do Until oTS.AtEndOfStream

               strRetp = oTS.ReadLine
               MsgBox strRetp

          Loop

          oTS.Close

    Set oTS = Nothing
    ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''


    '''' WRITE ROUTINE ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
    strRept = "Hi there"
    Set oTS = oFSO.OpenTextFile("x:\mypath\myfile.ext", ForWriting, True)

          oTS.WriteLine "---------------------------"
          oTS.WriteLine strRetp
          oTS.WriteLine "---------------------------"
          oTS.Close

    Set oTS = Nothing
    ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''


    '''' APPEND ROUTINE '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
    strRept = "Hi there"
    Set oTS = oFSO.OpenTextFile("x:\mypath\myfile.ext", ForAppending, True)

          oTS.WriteLine "---------------------------"
          oTS.WriteLine strRetp
          oTS.WriteLine "---------------------------"
          oTS.Close

    Set oTS = Nothing
    ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

This object-orientated approach also allows you to write Unicode (good for foreign characters).  You can use some other methods to read and write, with this approach, also:

    .Read(numberofcharacters)
    .ReadAll
    .Write "string to write"    '<-- NO NEW LINE
   
Look up the File System Object, for more info, here:

     http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/script56/html/FSOoriFileSystemObject.asp

HTH

J.