Printf

Remember C and sprintf? It was a long time ago:) That was very useful function, so here is Java version (enhanced a bit). It is easy to use and fast. Formatting is specified in a string, as in C. And yes, Java from version 5 has its own implementation, but Jodd version may be still interesting.

Printf formats a number in a printf format, like C. The format string has a prefix, a format code and a suffix. The prefix and suffix become part of the formatted output. The format code directs the formatting of the (single) parameter to be formatted. The code has the following structure:

• a % (required)
• a modifier (optional)
  • + forces display of + for positive numbers
  • ~ do not count leading + or - in length
  • 0 show leading zeroes
  • - align left in the field
  • space prepends a space in front of positive numbers
  • # use "alternate" format. Add 0 or 0x for octal or hexadecimal numbers. Don't suppress trailing zeros in general floating point format.
  • , groups decimal values by thousands (for 'diuxXb' formats)
• an integer denoting field width (optional)
• a period (.) followed by an integer denoting precision (optional)
• a format descriptor (required)
  • f floating point number in fixed format,
  • e, E floating point number in exponential notation (scientific format). The E format results in an uppercase E for the exponent (1.14130E+003), the e format in a lowercase e,
  • g, G floating point number in general format (fixed format for small numbers, exponential format for large numbers). Trailing zeroes are suppressed. The G format results in an uppercase E for the exponent (if any), the g format in a lowercase e,.
  • d, i signed long and integer in decimal,
  • u unsigned long or integer in decimal,
  • x unsigned long or integer in hexadecimal,
  • o unsigned long or integer in octal,
  • b unsigned long or integer in binary,
  • s string (actually, toString() value of an object),
  • c character,
  • l, L boolean in lower or upper case (for booleans and int/longs),
  • p identity hash code of an object (pointer ;).

Examples:

    Printf.str("%+i", 173);     // +173
    Printf.str("%04d", 1);      // 0001
    Printf.str("%f", 1.7);      // 1.700000
    Printf.str("%1.1f", 1.7);   // 1.7
    Printf.str("%.4e", 100.1e10);   // 1.0010e+012
    Printf.str("%G", 1.1e13);   // 1.1E+013
    Printf.str("%l", true);     // true
    Printf.str("%L", 123);      // TRUE
    Printf.str("%b", 13);       // 1101
    Printf.str("%,b", -13);     // 11111111 11111111 11111111 11110011
    Printf.str("%#X", 173);     // 0XAD
    Printf.str("%,x", -1);      // ffff ffff
    Printf.str("%s %s", new String[]{"one", "two"});    // one two

Note that float-point values are not precise, so the printed value may differ from argument.