Mega Code Archive
Format - rich formatting of numbers and text into a string sysutils unit
<![CDATA[
1 function Format ( Const Formatting : string; Const Data : array of const ) : string;
2 function Format ( Const Formatting : string; Const Data : array of const; FormatSettings : TFormatSettings ) : string;
Description
The Format function provides 'C' like formatting of multiple of simple data types into a string. It provides very precise control over this formatting.
The Formatting parameter defines how the Data array is manipulated into the returned string.
The Formatting string can comprise a mix of ordinary characters (that are passed unchanged to the result string), and data formatting characters. This formatting is best explained by the example code.
In simple terms, each data formatting substring starts with a % and ends with a data type indicator :
d = Decimal (integer)
e = Scientific
f = Fixed
g = General
m = Money
n = Number (floating)
p = Pointer
s = String
u = Unsigned decimal
x = Hexadecimal
The general format of each formatting substring is as follows:
%[Index:][-][Width][.Precision]Type
where the square brackets refer to optional parameters, and the : . - characters are literals, the first 2 of which are used to identify two of the optional arguments.
Version 2 of this function is for use within threads. You furnish the FormatSettings record before invoking the call. It takes a local copy of global formatting variables that make the routine thread safe.
Notes
Various formatting options, such as DecimalSeparator and CurrencyString are used for some of these formatting options. See the more specific versions of data display commands, such as CurrToStrF for details.
Related commands
CurrencyDecimals Defines decimal digit count in the Format function
CurrencyFormat Defines currency string placement in curr display functions
CurrencyString The currency string used in currency display functions
CurrToStrF Convert a currency value to a string with formatting
DecimalSeparator The character used to display the decimal point
FloatToStrF Convert a floating point value to a string with formatting
FormatCurr Rich formatting of a currency value into a string
FormatDateTime Rich formatting of a TDateTime variable into a string
FormatFloat Rich formatting of a floating point number into a string
NegCurrFormat Defines negative amount formatting in currency displays
ThousandSeparator The character used to display the thousands separator
Example code : Showing all of the formatting data types
var
text : string;
begin
// Just 1 data item
ShowMessage(Format('%s', ['Hello']));
// A mix of literal text and a data item
ShowMessage(Format('String = %s', ['Hello']));
ShowMessage('');
// Examples of each of the data types
ShowMessage(Format('Decimal = %d', [-123]));
ShowMessage(Format('Exponent = %e', [12345.678]));
ShowMessage(Format('Fixed = %f', [12345.678]));
ShowMessage(Format('General = %g', [12345.678]));
ShowMessage(Format('Number = %n', [12345.678]));
ShowMessage(Format('Money = %m', [12345.678]));
ShowMessage(Format('Pointer = %p', [addr(text)]));
ShowMessage(Format('String = %s', ['Hello']));
ShowMessage(Format('Unsigned decimal = %u', [123]));
ShowMessage(Format('Hexadecimal = %x', [140]));
end;
Show full unit code
Hello
String = Hello
Decimal = -123
Exponent = 1.23456780000000E+004
Fixed = 12345.68
General = 12345.678
Number = 12,345,68
Money = £12,345.68
Pointer = 0069FC90
String = Hello
Unsigned decimal = 123
Hexadecimal = 8C
Example code : Using the index, width and precision values
begin
// The width value dictates the output size
// with blank padding to the left
// Note the <> characters are added to show formatting
ShowMessage(Format('Padded decimal = <%7d>', [1234]));
// With the '-' operator, the data is left justified
ShowMessage(Format('Justified decimal = <%-7d>', [1234]));
// The precision value forces 0 padding to the desired size
ShowMessage(Format('0 padded decimal = <%.6d>', [1234]));
// A combination of width and precision
// Note that width value precedes the precision value
ShowMessage(Format('Width + precision = <%8.6d>', [1234]));
// The index value allows the next value in the data array
// to be changed
ShowMessage(Format('Reposition after 3 strings = %s %s %s %1:s %s',
['Zero', 'One', 'Two', 'Three']));
// One or more of the values may be provided by the
// data array itself. Note that testing has shown that an *
// for the width parameter can yield EConvertError.
ShowMessage(Format('In line = <%10.4d>', [1234]));
ShowMessage(Format('Part data driven = <%*.4d>', [10, 1234]));
ShowMessage(Format('Data driven = <%*.*d>', [10, 4, 1234]));
end;
Show full unit code
Padded decimal = < 1234>
Justified decimal = <1234 >
0 padded decimal = <001234>
Width + precision = < 001234>
Reposition after 3 strings = Zero One Two One Two
In line = < 1234>
Part data driven = < 1234>
Data driven = < 1234>
]]>