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).

Answer 1

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);