Zero fill left

  • Thread starter Thread starter tshad
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tshad

Is there a way to zero fill a numeric into a string that is a fixed lengh of
10 chars?

In Sql I would do something like: Right("0000000000" +
Convert(varchar,amt),10).

Is there an easy way to do this in VB.net code?

Thanks,

Tom
 
Is there a way to zero fill a numeric into a string that is a fixed lengh of
10 chars?

In Sql I would do something like: Right("0000000000" +
Convert(varchar,amt),10).

Is there an easy way to do this in VB.net code?

Thanks,

Tom
Click to expand...

Something like this?

Private Function Foo(ByVal amt As Integer) As String
Dim s As String = amt.ToString()
If s.Length < 10 Then
Return New String("0"c, 10 - s.Length()) & s
Else
Throw New ArgumentOutOfRangeException("amt", "The length
of amt cannot be greater than 10")
End If
End Function

Thanks,

Seth Rowe
 
tshad said:
Is there a way to zero fill a numeric into a string that is a fixed lengh of
10 chars?

In Sql I would do something like: Right("0000000000" +
Convert(varchar,amt),10).

Is there an easy way to do this in VB.net code?

Thanks,

Tom
Click to expand...

Use a custom format string when you convert the value to a string.

Dim answer As Integer = 42
Dim out As String = answer.ToString("0000000000")
 
Is there a way to zero fill a numeric into a string that is a fixed
lengh of 10 chars?

In Sql I would do something like: Right("0000000000" +
Convert(varchar,amt),10).

Is there an easy way to do this in VB.net code?
Click to expand...


You can use either the ToString("FormatStringHere") or the String.PadRight
function.
 
You can you the padleft and padright functions

dim i as integer = 42
return i.tostring.padleft(10,"0")
 
AMDRIT said:
You can you the padleft and padright functions

dim i as integer = 42
return i.tostring.padleft(10,"0")
Click to expand...

I'd prefer a custom formatting string ('i.ToString(...)') instead of using
'PadLeft' here.
 
Performance, readability, semantical "correctness" -- however, I have to
admit that it's just my personal preference.
 
sounds good.

just wrote an app that sends fixed field records and its full of padrights

next one i will try the custom formatting way:

Dim answer As Integer = 42
Dim out As String = answer.ToString("0000000000")

and see which one 'feels right'
 
Jay said:
sounds good.

just wrote an app that sends fixed field records and its full of
padrights
next one i will try the custom formatting way:

Dim answer As Integer = 42
Dim out As String = answer.ToString("0000000000")

and see which one 'feels right'
Click to expand...

PadRight has the advantage that it is self-documenting as to the desired
length of the resulting string :-)

Andrew
 
The only issue I have with your method is that it only works fine for left
padding numbers and does nothing for left aligning strings for fixed length
text.

I also think that is more readable when you implicitly call LeftPad or
RightPad, the intent is then known.

I do not believe that performance is an issue here. I am sure that format()
and padleft(), padright() are using similar cycles and resources under the
hood.

Semantical "Correctness" is completing a thought and implicitly stating the
understood.

"you, go to the store." is more correct than "Go to the store." as the
ladder has the understood you in it.

I think that int.tostring.padleft(10,"0") is more correct than
int.tostring("0000000000") as the ladder is understood to be padleft.

At the end of the day though, it is all about preference. Certainly a do
while loop can achieve the same results.
 
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