Format function

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Format

The format function formats a series of values into a string. For an in-depth explanation see the on line documentation.

The formatting rule for each given argument is:

% [ArgumentIndex] ['-'] [width] [. precision] ArgumentType


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 statements will create a set of strings that look like:

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



See also