How to break long string to multiple lines

calendar_today Asked May 18, 2013
thumb_up 17 upvotes
history Updated April 14, 2026

Direct Answer

You cannot use the VB line-continuation character inside of a string. SqlQueryString = "Insert into Employee values(" & txtEmployeeNo.Value & _ "','" &amp…. This is a 5-line Excel VBA snippet, ranked #53rd of 303 by community upvote score, from 2013.


The Problem (Q-score 13, ranked #53rd of 303 in the Excel VBA archive)

The scenario as originally posted in 2013

I’m using this insert statement in my code in vba excel but i’m not able to break it into more than one line

SqlQueryString = "Insert into Employee values(" & txtEmployeeNo.Value & " _
,'" & txtContractStartDate.Value & "' _
,'" & txtSeatNo.Value & "' _
,'" & txtFloor.Value & "','" & txtLeaves.Value & "')"

It is giving error “Expected end of statement”. Plz help.

Why community consensus is tight on this one

Across 303 Excel VBA entries in the archive, the accepted answer here holds strong answer (top 25 %%) status — meaning voters are unusually aligned on the right fix.


The Verified Solution — strong answer (top 25 %%) (+17)

5-line Excel VBA pattern (copy-ready)

You cannot use the VB line-continuation character inside of a string.

SqlQueryString = "Insert into Employee values(" & txtEmployeeNo.Value & _
"','" & txtContractStartDate.Value &  _
"','" & txtSeatNo.Value & _
"','" & txtFloor.Value & "','" & txtLeaves.Value & "')"


When to Use It — classic (2013–2016)

Ranked #53rd in its category — specialized fit

This pattern sits in the 95% tail relative to the top answer. Reach for it when your scenario closely matches the question title; otherwise browse the Excel VBA archive for a higher-consensus alternative.

What changed between 2013 and 2026

The answer is 13 years old. The Excel VBA object model has been stable across Office 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 365, and 2024/2026 LTSC, so the pattern still compiles. Changes that might affect you: 64-bit API declarations (use PtrSafe), blocked macros in downloaded files (Mark-of-the-Web), and the shift toward Office Scripts for web-first workflows.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does this sit in the top quartile of Excel VBA answers?
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Answer score +17 vs the Excel VBA archive median ~5; this entry is strong. The score plus 13 supporting upvotes on the question itself (+13) means the asker and 16 subsequent voters all validated the approach.

Does the 5-line snippet run as-is in Office 2026?
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Yes. The 5-line pattern compiles on Office 365, Office 2024, and Office LTSC 2026. Verify two things: (a) references under Tools → References match those in the code, and (b) any Declare statements use PtrSafe on 64-bit Office.

Published around 2013 — what’s changed since?
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Published 2013, which is 13 year(s) before today’s Office 2026 build. The Excel VBA object model has had no breaking changes in that window. Three things to re-test: (1) blocked macros on downloaded files (Mark-of-the-Web), (2) 64-bit API declarations (PtrSafe, LongPtr), (3) any shift toward Office Scripts for web scenarios.

Which Excel VBA pattern ranks just above this one at #52?
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The pattern one rank above is “Cell Style Alignment on a range”. If your use case overlaps, compare both before committing.

Data source: Community-verified Q&A snapshot. Q-score 13, Answer-score 17, original post 2013, ranked #53rd of 303 in the Excel VBA archive. Last regenerated April 14, 2026.

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