RTrim Function

Returns a String containing a copy of a specified string with trailing spaces removed.

Syntax

RTrim(string)

Parameters

• string (Required): String expression from which trailing spaces are to be removed
• Can be any valid string expression
• If string is Null, returns Null
• Empty string returns empty string

Return Value

Returns a String (or Variant): - Copy of string with trailing spaces removed - Removes only spaces (ASCII 32) from the right - Does not remove tabs, newlines, or other whitespace characters - Returns Null if input is Null - Returns empty string if input is empty or all spaces - Leading spaces are preserved - Internal spaces are preserved

Remarks

The RTrim function removes trailing spaces:

• Removes only space characters (ASCII 32) from the right side
• Does not remove tabs (Chr(9)), line feeds (Chr(10)), or carriage returns (Chr(13))
• Does not remove non-breaking spaces or other Unicode whitespace
• Leading spaces are not affected
• Internal spaces between words are preserved
• Often used to clean up output formatting
• Commonly paired with LTrim or used with Trim
• Null input returns Null (propagates Null)
• Empty string input returns empty string
• String of only spaces returns empty string
• Does not modify the original string (returns new string)
• Can be used with Variant variables
• Common in report generation and text alignment
• Used to remove padding from fixed-width fields
• Essential for cleaning exported data
• Part of the VB6 string manipulation library
• Available in all VB versions
• Related to LTrim (removes leading spaces) and Trim (removes both)

Typical Uses

1. Remove Trailing Spaces

cleanText = RTrim("Hello   ")

1. Clean Fixed-Width Output

outputLine = RTrim(paddedField)

1. Format Display

lblName.Caption = RTrim(recordset("Name"))

1. Process Data Export

exportValue = RTrim(databaseField)

1. Normalize Text

normalizedText = LTrim(RTrim(inputText))

1. String Comparison

If RTrim(text1) = RTrim(text2) Then
' Equal when ignoring trailing spaces
End If

1. Write to File

Print #1, RTrim(record.Field1)

1. Report Generation

reportLine = RTrim(customerName) & " - " & orderID

Basic Examples

Example 1: Basic Usage

Dim result As String

result = RTrim("Hello   ")           ' Returns "Hello"
result = RTrim("   Hello")           ' Returns "   Hello" (leading preserved)
result = RTrim("   Hello World   ")  ' Returns "   Hello World"
result = RTrim("NoSpaces")           ' Returns "NoSpaces"
result = RTrim("     ")              ' Returns ""
result = RTrim("")                   ' Returns ""

Example 2: Fixed-Width File Export

Sub ExportToFixedWidth(ByVal filename As String)
Dim rs As ADODB.Recordset
Dim fileNum As Integer
Dim line As String

Set rs = New ADODB.Recordset
rs.Open "SELECT * FROM Customers", conn

fileNum = FreeFile
Open filename For Output As #fileNum

Do While Not rs.EOF
' Build fixed-width line and remove trailing spaces
line = Left(rs("CustomerID") & Space(10), 10) & _
Left(rs("CompanyName") & Space(40), 40) & _
Left(rs("City") & Space(20), 20)

' Write without trailing spaces
Print #fileNum, RTrim(line)

rs.MoveNext
Loop

Close #fileNum
rs.Close
Set rs = Nothing
End Sub

Example 3: Database Field Cleanup

Function GetCustomerName(ByVal customerID As String) As String
Dim rs As ADODB.Recordset
Dim sql As String

sql = "SELECT CustomerName FROM Customers WHERE CustomerID = '" & customerID & "'"

Set rs = New ADODB.Recordset
rs.Open sql, conn

If Not rs.EOF Then
' Remove trailing spaces from database field (may be CHAR type)
GetCustomerName = RTrim(rs("CustomerName") & "")
Else
GetCustomerName = ""
End If

rs.Close
Set rs = Nothing
End Function

Example 4: Report Formatting

Sub GenerateReport()
Dim rs As ADODB.Recordset
Dim reportLine As String

Set rs = New ADODB.Recordset
rs.Open "SELECT * FROM Orders", conn

lstReport.Clear

Do While Not rs.EOF
' Format report line with proper spacing
reportLine = RTrim(rs("CustomerName") & "") & " - " & _
"Order #" & rs("OrderID") & " - " & _
Format(rs("OrderDate"), "mm/dd/yyyy")

lstReport.AddItem reportLine

rs.MoveNext
Loop

rs.Close
Set rs = Nothing
End Sub

Common Patterns

Pattern 1: FullTrim (combine with LTrim)

Function FullTrim(ByVal text As String) As String
FullTrim = LTrim(RTrim(text))
' Note: Can also use built-in Trim() function
End Function

Pattern 2: SafeRTrim (handle Null)

Function SafeRTrim(ByVal text As Variant) As String
If IsNull(text) Then
SafeRTrim = ""
Else
SafeRTrim = RTrim(text)
End If
End Function

Pattern 3: CleanDatabaseField

Function CleanDatabaseField(ByVal rs As Recordset, _
ByVal fieldName As String) As String
If Not IsNull(rs(fieldName)) Then
CleanDatabaseField = RTrim(rs(fieldName) & "")
Else
CleanDatabaseField = ""
End If
End Function

Pattern 4: TrimTrailingSpaces

Sub TrimTrailingSpaces(fields() As String)
Dim i As Integer
For i = LBound(fields) To UBound(fields)
fields(i) = RTrim(fields(i))
Next i
End Sub

Pattern 5: CompareIgnoreTrailing

Function CompareIgnoreTrailing(ByVal str1 As String, _
ByVal str2 As String) As Boolean
CompareIgnoreTrailing = (RTrim(str1) = RTrim(str2))
End Function

Pattern 6: FormatFixedWidth

Function FormatFixedWidth(ByVal text As String, _
ByVal width As Integer) As String
Dim padded As String
padded = Left(text & Space(width), width)
FormatFixedWidth = RTrim(padded)
End Function

Pattern 7: CleanRecordsetField

Function CleanRecordsetField(ByVal rs As Recordset, _
ByVal fieldName As String, _
Optional ByVal defaultValue As String = "") As String
On Error Resume Next
If Not IsNull(rs(fieldName)) Then
CleanRecordsetField = RTrim(CStr(rs(fieldName)))
Else
CleanRecordsetField = defaultValue
End If
End Function

Pattern 8: ExportCleanLine

Sub ExportCleanLine(ByVal fileNum As Integer, _
ByVal text As String)
Print #fileNum, RTrim(text)
End Sub

Pattern 9: RemoveTrailingPadding

Function RemoveTrailingPadding(ByVal paddedText As String) As String
RemoveTrailingPadding = RTrim(paddedText)
End Function

Pattern 10: CleanDisplayText

Sub CleanDisplayText(ByVal ctrl As Control)
If TypeOf ctrl Is Label Or TypeOf ctrl Is TextBox Then
ctrl.Caption = RTrim(ctrl.Caption)
End If
End Sub

Advanced Examples

Example 1: Fixed-Width File Processor

' Class: FixedWidthExporter
Private m_fileNum As Integer
Private m_isOpen As Boolean

Public Sub OpenFile(ByVal filename As String)
If m_isOpen Then CloseFile

m_fileNum = FreeFile
Open filename For Output As #m_fileNum
m_isOpen = True
End Sub

Public Sub WriteField(ByVal text As String, ByVal width As Integer)
Dim padded As String

' Pad to width and remove trailing spaces
padded = Left(text & Space(width), width)
Print #m_fileNum, RTrim(padded);
End Sub

Public Sub WriteLine()
Print #m_fileNum, ""
End Sub

Public Sub WriteRecord(ParamArray fields() As Variant)
Dim i As Integer
Dim line As String

For i = LBound(fields) To UBound(fields)
If i Mod 2 = 0 Then
' Even index = text
line = line & Left(fields(i) & Space(fields(i + 1)), fields(i + 1))
End If
Next i

Print #m_fileNum, RTrim(line)
End Sub

Public Sub CloseFile()
If m_isOpen Then
Close #m_fileNum
m_isOpen = False
End If
End Sub

Private Sub Class_Terminate()
CloseFile
End Sub

Example 2: Database Field Cleaner

' Class: RecordsetCleaner
Private m_trimLeading As Boolean
Private m_trimTrailing As Boolean

Private Sub Class_Initialize()
m_trimLeading = False
m_trimTrailing = True
End Sub

Public Property Let TrimLeading(ByVal value As Boolean)
m_trimLeading = value
End Property

Public Property Let TrimTrailing(ByVal value As Boolean)
m_trimTrailing = value
End Property

Public Function GetCleanField(ByVal rs As Recordset, _
ByVal fieldName As String) As String
Dim value As String

If IsNull(rs(fieldName)) Then
GetCleanField = ""
Exit Function
End If

value = CStr(rs(fieldName))

If m_trimTrailing Then
value = RTrim(value)
End If

If m_trimLeading Then
value = LTrim(value)
End If

GetCleanField = value
End Function

Public Sub CleanRecordset(ByVal rs As Recordset)
Dim fld As Field

If rs.EOF And rs.BOF Then Exit Sub

rs.MoveFirst
Do While Not rs.EOF
For Each fld In rs.Fields
If fld.Type = adVarChar Or fld.Type = adChar Then
If Not IsNull(fld.Value) Then
fld.Value = GetCleanField(rs, fld.Name)
End If
End If
Next fld
rs.MoveNext
Loop
End Sub

Example 3: Report Generator

' Class: ReportGenerator
Private m_lines As Collection
Private m_columnWidths() As Integer

Public Sub Initialize(columnWidths() As Integer)
Set m_lines = New Collection
m_columnWidths = columnWidths
End Sub

Public Sub AddRow(ParamArray values() As Variant)
Dim i As Integer
Dim line As String
Dim cellValue As String

For i = LBound(values) To UBound(values)
If i <= UBound(m_columnWidths) Then
cellValue = CStr(values(i))
line = line & Left(cellValue & Space(m_columnWidths(i)), _
m_columnWidths(i))
End If
Next i

' Remove trailing spaces from line
m_lines.Add RTrim(line)
End Sub

Public Sub AddSeparator()
Dim i As Integer
Dim line As String

For i = LBound(m_columnWidths) To UBound(m_columnWidths)
line = line & String(m_columnWidths(i), "-")
Next i

m_lines.Add RTrim(line)
End Sub

Public Function GetReport() As String
Dim line As Variant
Dim report As String

For Each line In m_lines
report = report & line & vbCrLf
Next line

GetReport = report
End Function

Public Sub SaveToFile(ByVal filename As String)
Dim fileNum As Integer
Dim line As Variant

fileNum = FreeFile
Open filename For Output As #fileNum

For Each line In m_lines
Print #fileNum, line
Next line

Close #fileNum
End Sub

Example 4: Text Utilities Module

' Module: TextUtils

Public Function CleanTrailing(ByVal text As String) As String
CleanTrailing = RTrim(text)
End Function

Public Function CleanBoth(ByVal text As String) As String
CleanBoth = LTrim(RTrim(text))
End Function

Public Function CleanArray(arr() As String, _
ByVal trimType As String) As String()
Dim i As Integer
Dim result() As String

ReDim result(LBound(arr) To UBound(arr))

For i = LBound(arr) To UBound(arr)
Select Case LCase(trimType)
Case "trailing", "right"
result(i) = RTrim(arr(i))
Case "leading", "left"
result(i) = LTrim(arr(i))
Case "both", "all"
result(i) = LTrim(RTrim(arr(i)))
Case Else
result(i) = arr(i)
End Select
Next i

CleanArray = result
End Function

Public Function PadAndTrim(ByVal text As String, _
ByVal width As Integer, _
Optional ByVal padChar As String = " ") As String
Dim padded As String

If Len(padChar) = 0 Then padChar = " "
padded = Left(text & String(width, padChar), width)
PadAndTrim = RTrim(padded)
End Function

Public Function JoinClean(arr() As String, _
ByVal delimiter As String) As String
Dim i As Integer
Dim result As String
Dim cleanValue As String

For i = LBound(arr) To UBound(arr)
cleanValue = RTrim(arr(i))
If cleanValue <> "" Then
If result <> "" Then
result = result & delimiter
End If
result = result & cleanValue
End If
Next i

JoinClean = result
End Function

Error Handling

' RTrim handles Null gracefully
Dim result As Variant
result = RTrim(Null)  ' Returns Null

' Safe trimming with Null check
Function SafeRTrim(ByVal value As Variant) As String
If IsNull(value) Then
SafeRTrim = ""
Else
SafeRTrim = RTrim(CStr(value))
End If
End Function

Performance Considerations

• Fast Operation: String trimming is highly optimized
• Creates New String: Does not modify original (immutable)
• Avoid in Tight Loops: Cache result if using multiple times
• Use Trim() for Both: If removing both leading and trailing spaces

Best Practices

1. Use for database CHAR fields - Remove padding from fixed-length fields
2. Clean export data - Remove trailing spaces before writing to files
3. Combine with LTrim - Use Trim() instead for both sides
4. Validate before use - Check for Null if using Variant
5. Cache trimmed values - Don't call repeatedly in loops
6. Apply to report output - Clean formatting in generated reports
7. Use with fixed-width formats - Essential for proper alignment
8. Document expectations - Clarify if tabs/newlines should be removed
9. Test edge cases - Empty strings, all spaces, Null values
10. Consider Unicode - RTrim only removes ASCII space (32)

Comparison with Related Functions

RTrim vs LTrim vs Trim

Dim text As String
text = "   Hello World   "

' RTrim - removes trailing spaces only
Debug.Print "[" & RTrim(text) & "]"   ' [   Hello World]

' LTrim - removes leading spaces only
Debug.Print "[" & LTrim(text) & "]"   ' [Hello World   ]

' Trim - removes both leading and trailing
Debug.Print "[" & Trim(text) & "]"    ' [Hello World]

' Manual equivalent to Trim
Debug.Print "[" & LTrim(RTrim(text)) & "]"  ' [Hello World]

Whitespace Characters

' RTrim only removes space (ASCII 32)
Dim text As String

text = "Hello   "        ' Spaces - REMOVED
text = "Hello" & Chr(9)  ' Tab - NOT REMOVED
text = "Hello" & Chr(10) ' Line feed - NOT REMOVED
text = "Hello" & Chr(13) ' Carriage return - NOT REMOVED
text = "Hello" & Chr(160) ' Non-breaking space - NOT REMOVED

' To remove other whitespace, use custom function
Function TrimAllWhitespaceRight(ByVal text As String) As String
Do While Len(text) > 0
Dim ch As String
ch = Right(text, 1)

If ch = " " Or ch = Chr(9) Or ch = Chr(10) Or ch = Chr(13) Then
text = Left(text, Len(text) - 1)
Else
Exit Do
End If
Loop

TrimAllWhitespaceRight = text
End Function

Platform Notes

• Available in all VB6 versions
• Part of VBA core library
• Works with ANSI and Unicode strings
• Only removes ASCII space character (32)
• Returns new string (original unchanged)
• Handles Null by returning Null
• Available in VBScript
• Same behavior across all Windows versions

Limitations

• Only Space Character: Does not remove tabs, line feeds, etc.
• No Unicode Whitespace: Does not remove non-breaking spaces, em spaces, etc.
• Creates New String: Cannot modify string in place
• No Custom Characters: Cannot specify which characters to remove
• Null Propagation: Returns Null if input is Null

Related Functions

• LTrim: Removes leading spaces from string
• Trim: Removes both leading and trailing spaces
• Right: Returns rightmost characters
• Left: Returns leftmost characters
• Mid: Returns substring from middle
• Replace: Replaces occurrences of substring
• Space: Creates string of spaces
• Len: Returns string length