c# pass in data formatting string at runtime

Question

i would like to be able to pass in a format string at runtime and have it applied against a nominal data value.

for example, the incoming format string could look anything like the standard c# format types:

{0:c}, {0:d}, #,###,###

i want to be able to accept the string value and apply the format at runtime. some pseudocode

private string FormatAtRunTime(formatstring)
{
   string formattedOutput = "";
   decimal datavalue = 2.4600;

   datavalue.ToString(formatstring);   ??????

   return formattedOutput;
}

And what's the problem, exactly? Have you tried something?

Daryl Teo
– Daryl Teo

2011-10-10 06:39:50 +00:00
Commented Oct 10, 2011 at 6:39 — Daryl Teo
– Daryl Teo, Commented Oct 10, 2011 at 6:39
what issue are you experiencing?

Adam Ralph
– Adam Ralph

2011-10-10 06:39:54 +00:00
Commented Oct 10, 2011 at 6:39 — Adam Ralph
– Adam Ralph, Commented Oct 10, 2011 at 6:39

Jon Skeet · Accepted Answer · 2011-10-10 06:37:40Z

2

I think you just want:

string formattedOutput = string.Format(formatstring, datavalue);

The fact that the first argument isn't a string literal (as most calls to Format probably are) is irrelevant.

Note that calling datavalue.ToString(formatstring) would be fine if formatstring were a single format specifier, e.g. "c" or even "0.000" - but it can't be a composite format string as your example gives. For that, you need string.Format.

answered Oct 10, 2011 at 6:37

Jon Skeet

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1 Comment

eFloh Over a year ago

good guess, but in any case a good explanation about data.ToString() and ´String.Format()` :)

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