PRB: Line Continuation Character (_) Causes Event Concatenation (165975)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual Basic Learning Edition for Windows 5.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Learning Edition for Windows 6.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows 5.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows 6.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows 5.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows 6.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Standard Edition, 32-bit, for Windows 4.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition, 16-bit, for Windows 4.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition, 32-bit, for Windows 4.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition, 16-bit, for Windows 4.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition, 32-bit, for Windows 4.0
This article was previously published under Q165975

SYMPTOMS

The code window shows each event procedure of a control individually in the default procedure view. Adding a space and a line continuation character (an underscore "_") after the line of code preceding the End Sub statement results in the following event of the same control to appear. If the Full Module View check box in the Editor Tab of the Options dialog box is clicked, the line separating the two procedures disappears.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

The line continuation character causes the next line of code to be concatenated with the code line containing the line continuation character. Visual Basic then considers the procedure containing the line continuation character as part of the next event procedure.

Steps To Reproduce Behavior

  1. Start Visual Basic, or, if it is already running, click New Project from the File menu.
  2. Copy and paste the following code to the Form1 Code Window: 
          Private Sub Form_Click()
         MsgBox "world"
      End Sub

      Private Sub Form_Load()
         MsgBox "hello"
      End Sub
    You should see only the Form_Load event in the code window.
  3. In the Form_Click event, type a space followed by a line continuation character (_) after the code line for the message box in the Form_Click procedure event. The code should look like the following: 
          Private Sub Form_Click()
         MsgBox "world" _
      End Sub
    After you press the ENTER key, the Form_Click and the Form_Load procedure events appear in the same procedure event. If the Full Module View checkbox is checked, then the line separating the procedures disappears.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:6/30/2004
Keywords:kbprb KB165975
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.