Format string for decimal output

Question

I just started programming C# today, and I'm trying to get a handle on the format strings.

I would like to output a string of this format:

{decimal number using a maximum of 10 columns} + 
" " + 
{decimal number taking a maximum of 10 columns}

I've tried

String outputFormat = "{0,-10:0.#####} {1,-10:0.#####}";
String output = String.Format(outputFormat, x, y);

But if x is 34059834.340598, I don't get the output I want.

The first number takes more than 10 columns.

Is there a format string to force numbers to 10 columns? (Maybe show E notation if the n.m would be greater than 10 columns).

What do you mean bu "Columns"? What is the output you want from 34059834.340598 ? — Magnus
– Magnus, Commented Sep 27, 2012 at 17:14
I dont understand what you want. Can you show the inputs and the output you want? — m.rufca
– m.rufca, Commented Sep 27, 2012 at 17:18

Matt Burland · Accepted Answer · 2012-09-27 17:17:33Z

3

I think you are looking for the G specifier for you number formating.

Something like this (untested) should work:

string tenCols = myDecimal.ToString("G10");

Or to be more inline with what you had before, I think this should do it:

String outputFormat = "{0,-10:G10} {1,-10:G10}";
String output = String.Format(outputFormat, x, y);

answered Sep 27, 2012 at 17:17

Matt Burland

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Servy · Accepted Answer · 2012-09-27 17:07:49Z

0

double x = 34059834.340598
string displayX = x.ToString().Substring(0,10);

I'm pretty sure you won't be able to do what you want using format strings directly, but it's easy enough with string manipulation in code.

answered Sep 27, 2012 at 17:07

Servy

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3 Comments

OregonTrail Over a year ago

What if x was 100000000000000000.581. I don't want to lose information, just precision.

DanM7 Over a year ago

So if x was 100000000000000000.234 then you would want 1000000000 0000000023 then? 10 digits, space, 10 digits? That seems weird. Why not just always do scientific (E) notation?

OregonTrail Over a year ago

I want scientific notation if the decimal number would be larger than 10 digits, else I want standard notation. String.Format() does this by default when the floating point value has lost precision on your hardware.

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