Format function

Format

The format function formats a series of strings and numeric values and stores the resulting in string.

To see the the right result in all cases, you should use the monospaced font (fixed-width). Examples of monospaced fonts include Courier, Courier New, Lucida Console

The most basic rule that string formatting follows is this:

% [argument index] [flag] [width] [.precision] argument type

Argument type

• d = Decimal (integer)
• e = Scientific
• f = Fixed
• g = General
• m = Money
• n = Number (floating)
• p = Pointer
• s = String
• u = Unsigned decimal
• x = Hexadecimal

Integer formatting

%d	Will print the integer as it is.
%8d	Will pint the integer as it is. If the number of digits is less than 8, the output will be padded on the left.
%-8d	Will pint the integer as it is. If the number of digits is less than 8, the output will be padded on the right.
%.8d	Will pint the integer as it is. If the number of digits is less than 8, the output will be padded on the left with zeroes.

String formatting

%s	Will print the string as it is.
%8s	Will pint the string as it is. If the string has less than 8 characters, the output will be padded on the left.
%-8s	Will pint the string as it is. If the string has less than 8 characters, the output will be padded on the left.

Example to use

...

procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
var
  title,  title2,
  underline,
  line, row1, row2, row3,
  fmt : string;
  i : integer;
begin
  fmt := '%-12s';
  title := format(fmt,['Column 1']) + format(fmt,['Column 2']) ;
  for i := 1 to 12 do underline := underline + '-';
  underline := underline + underline ;
  fmt := '%-12d';
  line := format(fmt,[15]) + format(fmt,[8]) ;
  fmt := '%12s';
  title2 := format(fmt,['Column 1']) + format(fmt,['Column 2']) ;
  fmt := '%12d';
  row1 := format(fmt,[15]) + format(fmt,[8]) ;
  row2 := format(fmt,[1005]) + format(fmt,[809]) ;
  fmt := '%12.5d';
  row3 := format(fmt,[1005]) + format(fmt,[809]) ;
  Memo1.Lines.Add( title );
  Memo1.Lines.Add( underline );
  Memo1.Lines.Add( line );
  Memo1.Lines.Add( '' );
  Memo1.Lines.Add( title2 );
  Memo1.Lines.Add( underline );
  Memo1.Lines.Add( row1 );
  Memo1.Lines.Add( row2 );
  Memo1.Lines.Add( row3 );
end; 

...

The above program will print out :

Column 1    Column 2    
------------------------
15          8           

    Column 1    Column 2
------------------------
          15           8
        1005         809
       01005       00809

See also

• Format
• FloatToStrF
• FormatFloat
• IntToHex - Convert an integer into a hexadecimal string.