Creating Blank Lines

In the default setting, the system does not output any blank lines created using the WRITE f statement with the AT / option. A blank line is a line that contains character strings only and whose individual fields consist of nothing but blank characters. If you do not wish to work with the SKIP statement (see Lines and Blanks) for the output of character strings, but also wish to output the blanks created by WRITE statements, use the following statement:

Syntax

SET BLANK LINES ON|OFF.

If you use the ON argument, the system does not suppress the output of blank lines created using WRITE statements. To reset the default setting, use the OFF option.

Note Note

You use this statement, for example, to represent empty table entries in the list. Note that the system displays a line containing nothing but, for example, empty input fields or empty checkboxes only if you specify SET BLANK LINES ON beforehand.

End of the note.

Syntax Syntax

The following program creates five blank lines. The output '*****' appears in the sixth line.

```
REPORT sapmztst.
```
```
SKIP 5.
```
```
WRITE '*****'.
```

End of the source code.

The following program does not create any blank lines. The output '*****' appears in the first line. The SET BLANK LINES OFF statement is used only to emphasize the default setting.

Syntax Syntax

```
REPORT sapmztst.
```
```
SET BLANK LINES OFF.
```
```
DO 5 TIMES
```
```
   WRITE / ' '. 
```
```
ENDDO:
```
```
WRITE '*****'.
```

End of the source code.

The program below creates five blank lines, since the SET BLANK LINES ON statement is used. The output '*****' appears in the sixth line.

Syntax Syntax

```
REPORT sapmztst.
```
```
SET BLANK LINES ON. 
```
```
DO 5 TIMES
```
```
   WRITE / ' '. 
```
```
ENDDO.
```
```
SET BLANK LINES OFF.
```
```
WRITE  / '*****'.
```

End of the source code.