Formatting decimal places

[Julie]

Re: Formatting decimal places

David Harmon wrote:[color=blue]
>
> On Tue, 20 Apr 2004 10:41:14 -0700 in comp.lang.c++, Julie
> <julie@nospam.c om> wrote,[color=green]
> >[color=darkred]
> >> I was expressing (rather tersely) that a reference to Boost is off-topic in
> >> this forum when there is an existing and preferred solution in C++ language.[/color][/color]
>
> Boost is a collection of solutions in the C++ language.[/color]

True.
[color=blue]
> Widely accepted and frequently preferred.[/color]

I don't know if that is true or not, regardless, that doesn't make it on
topic. There are plenty of other libraries out there that are equally widely
accepted and preferred, but are off topic. I'm not saying that Boost, per se,
is on or off topic, just saying that universal acceptance doesn't equate to on
topic.
[color=blue]
> Not in any way off-topic that I can see.[/color]

As I said, it is off topic because there is a perfectly suitable C++ language
solution. If there were no C++ solution, then the Boost response may have been
appropriate and on-topic.
[color=blue]
> It does happen to be the wrong answer to the question of this thread,
> but that's a different matter entirely.[/color]

No, it wasn't a different matter, but entirely _the_ matter of discussion.

I know that this discussion is getting close to splitting hairs that no one
really cares about, including me, so I don't really have much more to add to
this or any other response.

[Julie]

Re: Formatting decimal places

Jeff Schwab wrote:[color=blue]
>
> Julie wrote:[color=green]
> > David Harmon wrote:
> >[color=darkred]
> >>On Tue, 20 Apr 2004 08:45:50 -0700 in comp.lang.c++, Julie
> >><julie@nospam .com> wrote,
> >>
> >>>Marcin Kalicinski wrote:
> >>>
> >>>>Uzytkowni k "Andrew" <admckni@hqcnsg .navy.mil> napisal w wiadomosci
> >>>>news:8e7fb0 4b.0404200701.7 8f638bb@posting .google.com...
> >>>>
> >>>>>I trying to format my output to display a set number of decimal
> >>>>>places. I have been trying to use the <iomanip> setprecision(), but
> >>>>>that will only display the total number of digits. Can someone please
> >>>>>help me???? Thanks.
> >>>>
> >>>>Check out boost::format.
> >>>>
> >>>>Marcin
> >>>
> >>>Boost is OT in this forum.
> >>
> >>Where OT = "On Topic"[/color]
> >
> >
> > Nope. OT is the accepted "Off Topic".
> >
> > From one of my other responses:
> >
> >[color=darkred]
> >>I was expressing (rather tersely) that a reference to Boost is off-topic in
> >>this forum when there is an existing and preferred solution in C++ language.[/color][/color]
>
> Not a fan of irony, I see.[/color]

I don't know what that means, so I'll leave it up to you to determine for
yourself if I'm a fan or not.
[color=blue]
>
> Why is it OT even to mention boost? Also, if you know of a "preferred
> solution," why was it worth your time to criticize someone else, but not
> worth your time to present the solution?[/color]

I wasn't specifically aware of the preferred solution, I just new that it
existed.

[Claudio Puviani]

Re: Formatting decimal places

"David Harmon" <source@netcom. com> wrote[color=blue]
> On Tue, 20 Apr 2004 10:41:14 -0700 in comp.lang.c++, Julie
> <julie@nospam.c om> wrote,[color=green]
> >[color=darkred]
> >> I was expressing (rather tersely) that a reference to Boost is off-topic[/color][/color][/color]
in[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
> >> this forum when there is an existing and preferred solution in C++[/color][/color][/color]
language.[color=blue]
>
> Boost is a collection of solutions in the C++ language. Widely accepted
> and frequently preferred. Not in any way off-topic that I can see.
> It does happen to be the wrong answer to the question of this thread,
> but that's a different matter entirely.[/color]

It's off-topic in the same way that all other third party libraries are
off-topic, regardless of how good they may or may not be. It's not part of the
language. If we open that door, the newsgroup will be flooded with threads
about boost, QT, CommonC++, blitz, MFC, ATL, M++, Rogue Wave, wxwindows, and
dozens upon dozens of others. These libraries are NOT the core standard C++
language/libraries which is the topic of this newsgroup. This isn't to say that
they're not valid and even interesting topics elsewhere, but they are out of
place here.

Claudio Puviani

[Dan Bloomquist]

Re:(ot) Formatting decimal places



Julie wrote:[color=blue]
> Jeff Schwab wrote:[color=green][color=darkred]
>>>[/color]
>>Not a fan of irony, I see.[/color]
>
> I don't know what that means, so I'll leave it up to you to determine for
> yourself if I'm a fan or not.[/color]

But Julie, it was a *joke*!

Best, Dan.

--

http://lakeweb.net

http://ReserveAnalyst.com

No EXTRA stuff for email.

[Jeff Schwab]

Re: Formatting decimal places

Claudio Puviani wrote:[color=blue]
> These libraries are NOT the core standard C++
> language/libraries which is the topic of this newsgroup.[/color]

Where is that topic stated?

[David Harmon]

Re: Formatting decimal places

On Tue, 20 Apr 2004 23:46:26 GMT in comp.lang.c++, "Claudio Puviani"
<puviani@hotmai l.com> wrote,[color=blue]
>It's off-topic in the same way that all other third party libraries are
>off-topic, regardless of how good they may or may not be. It's not part
> of the language.[/color]

If you say that, you may as well say that all C++ code is off topic. It
isn't part of the language. Unless it is an excerpt from your vendor's
headers.
[color=blue]
>If we open that door, the newsgroup will be flooded with threads
>about boost, QT, CommonC++, blitz, MFC, ATL, M++, Rogue Wave, wxwindows, and
>dozens upon dozens of others.[/color]

I don't know all of those. See also the "Available C++ Libraries FAQ"
compiled by Nikki Locke. http://www.trumphurst.com/cpplibs/ or

http://purl.oclc.org/NET/C++Libraries

Some you list such as MFC and ATL are predominately off topic, as they
are mostly about interfacing to a OS platform API and the problems are
mostly API problems. But if a question about C++ happens to involve
some fragment of code from MFC, that fact alone doesn't make it off
topic.

For the rest, if they are open and available, if they are attempting to
live as standard conforming C++, then let them come! Very possibly such
a library may contain not a line of off-topic code.

Likewise, "re-invent all your own wheels" is not good advice for someone
asking how to solve problems in C++.

Of course a poster should read the FAQs "[5.8] How do I post a question
about code that doesn't work correctly?" and "[5.9] Which newsgroup
should I post my questions?" and use good judgement.

[Julie]

Re: (ot) Formatting decimal places

Dan Bloomquist wrote:[color=blue]
>
> Julie wrote:[color=green]
> > Jeff Schwab wrote:[color=darkred]
> >>>
> >>Not a fan of irony, I see.[/color]
> >
> > I don't know what that means, so I'll leave it up to you to determine for
> > yourself if I'm a fan or not.[/color]
>
> But Julie, it was a *joke*!
>
> Best, Dan.
>
> --
> http://lakeweb.net
> http://ReserveAnalyst.com
> No EXTRA stuff for email.[/color]

Zing!

[Michiel Salters]

Re: Formatting decimal places

Julie <julie@nospam.c om> wrote in message news:<408545AE. C7FE7FDC@nospam .com>...[color=blue]
> Marcin Kalicinski wrote:[color=green]
> >
> > Uzytkownik "Andrew" <admckni@hqcnsg .navy.mil> napisal w wiadomosci
> > news:8e7fb04b.0 404200701.78f63 8bb@posting.goo gle.com...[color=darkred]
> > > I trying to format my output to display a set number of decimal
> > > places. I have been trying to use the <iomanip> setprecision(), but
> > > that will only display the total number of digits. Can someone please
> > > help me???? Thanks.[/color]
> >
> > Check out boost::format.
> >
> > Marcin[/color]
>
> Boost is OT in this forum.[/color]

But redirecting people to other resources is acceptable here.
Only discussing actual problems with Boost::format would be OT.
So I'll take your remark as an advice for follow-ups.

Regards,
Michiel Salters

[Claudio Puviani]

Re: Formatting decimal places

"Jeff Schwab" <jeffplus@comca st.net> wrote[color=blue]
> Claudio Puviani wrote:[color=green]
> > These libraries are NOT the core standard C++
> > language/libraries which is the topic of this newsgroup.[/color]
>
> Where is that topic stated?[/color]

http://www.parashift.com/c++-faq-lite/how-to-post.html#faq-5.9

"Only post to comp.lang.c++ if your question is about the C++ language itself.
For example, C++ code design, syntax, style, rules, bugs, etc. Ultimately this
means your question must be answerable by looking into the C++ language
definition as determined by the ISO/ANSI C++ Standard document, and by planned
extensions and adjustments."

Clearly, this excludes third party libraries, unless they somehow made it into
the ISO/ANSI C++ Standard document.

Claudio Puviani

[Claudio Puviani]

Re: Formatting decimal places

"David Harmon" <source@netcom. com> wrote[color=blue]
> "Claudio Puviani" <puviani@hotmai l.com> wrote,[color=green]
> >It's off-topic in the same way that all other third party libraries are
> >off-topic, regardless of how good they may or may not be. It's not part
> > of the language.[/color]
>
> If you say that, you may as well say that all C++ code is off topic. It
> isn't part of the language. Unless it is an excerpt from your vendor's
> headers.[/color]

As I just quoted for someone else, "Only post to comp.lang.c++ if your question
is about the C++ language itself. For example, C++ code design, syntax, style,
rules, bugs, etc. Ultimately this means your question must be answerable by
looking into the C++ language definition as determined by the ISO/ANSI C++
Standard document, and by planned extensions and adjustments." This is from the
FAQ: http://www.parashift.com/c++-faq-lit...t.html#faq-5.9

This can't be any clearer. If it's not about the C++ language itself, it's off
topic. You can get to Chicago driving a Ford, but that doesn't mean that
discussions of Chicago are in any way germane to a conversation about Fords.
[color=blue]
> Some you list such as MFC and ATL are predominately off topic, as they
> are mostly about interfacing to a OS platform API and the problems are
> mostly API problems. But if a question about C++ happens to involve
> some fragment of code from MFC, that fact alone doesn't make it off
> topic.[/color]

If the question is about C++, the MFC fragment can be removed and the example
isolated. If the MFC fragment can't be removed, then clearly, it's an MFC issue
and not a C++ issue.
[color=blue]
> For the rest, if they are open and available, if they are attempting to
> live as standard conforming C++, then let them come![/color]

If you want to make that kind of decision, you're free to start your own
newsgroup to cater to the side discussions (and continue to come here for the
C++ topics, of course). This newsgroup already has a mandate and as guests, we
have to respect it. The mandate makes no distinction with respect to the
openness, availability, or price of third party libraries. They're all
off-topic.
[color=blue]
> Very possibly such a library may contain not a line of off-topic code.[/color]

And copying such a line of code to ask a question about it -- if it's
independent of the rest of the library -- is perfectly on-topic. However,
discussing how to use the iterators in the boost graph library, for example,
would be blatantly off topic. It's an easy concept to test: can it be discussed
without reference to documentation other than the ISO/ANSI standard? If the
answer is "no", it's off-topic.
[color=blue]
> Likewise, "re-invent all your own wheels" is not good advice for someone
> asking how to solve problems in C++.[/color]

Stating that something is off-topic for this newsgroup isn't saying that the
person should reinvent the wheel. It just means that the solution needs to be
discussed elsewhere. If someone wants to use ODBC, saying that it's off-topic
doesn't mean that the person has to re-implement ODBC from scratch using only
standard C++. It just means that they need to go to a more appropriate forum.
[color=blue]
> Of course a poster should read the FAQs "[5.8] How do I post a question
> about code that doesn't work correctly?" and "[5.9] Which newsgroup
> should I post my questions?" and use good judgement.[/color]

Well, as I indicated above, 5.9 is very clear about what constitutes on-topic
material.

And, of course, we're all wildly violating [5.12]: "An extended flame war
against an off-topic posting is just as off-topic as the original off-topic
posting. The cure can be worse than the disease." :-)

Claudio Puviani

[Jeff Schwab]

Re: Formatting decimal places

Claudio Puviani wrote:[color=blue]
> "Jeff Schwab" <jeffplus@comca st.net> wrote
>[color=green]
>>Claudio Puviani wrote:
>>[color=darkred]
>>>These libraries are NOT the core standard C++
>>>language/libraries which is the topic of this newsgroup.[/color]
>>
>>Where is that topic stated?[/color]
>
>
> http://www.parashift.com/c++-faq-lit...t.html#faq-5.9
>
> "Only post to comp.lang.c++ if your question is about the C++ language itself.
> For example, C++ code design, syntax, style, rules, bugs, etc. Ultimately this
> means your question must be answerable by looking into the C++ language
> definition as determined by the ISO/ANSI C++ Standard document, and by planned
> extensions and adjustments."
>
> Clearly, this excludes third party libraries, unless they somehow made it into
> the ISO/ANSI C++ Standard document.[/color]

This excludes questions about thirdy-party libraries. IMO, it is in no
way OT to direct someone to an appropriate resource.

[Claudio Puviani]

Re: Formatting decimal places

"Jeff Schwab" <jeffplus@comca st.net> wrote[color=blue]
> Claudio Puviani wrote:[color=green]
> > "Jeff Schwab" <jeffplus@comca st.net> wrote
> >[color=darkred]
> >>Claudio Puviani wrote:
> >>
> >>>These libraries are NOT the core standard C++
> >>>language/libraries which is the topic of this newsgroup.
> >>
> >>Where is that topic stated?[/color]
> >
> >
> > http://www.parashift.com/c++-faq-lit...t.html#faq-5.9
> >
> > "Only post to comp.lang.c++ if your question is about the C++ language[/color][/color]
itself.[color=blue][color=green]
> > For example, C++ code design, syntax, style, rules, bugs, etc. Ultimately[/color][/color]
this[color=blue][color=green]
> > means your question must be answerable by looking into the C++ language
> > definition as determined by the ISO/ANSI C++ Standard document, and by[/color][/color]
planned[color=blue][color=green]
> > extensions and adjustments."
> >
> > Clearly, this excludes third party libraries, unless they somehow made it[/color][/color]
into[color=blue][color=green]
> > the ISO/ANSI C++ Standard document.[/color]
>
> This excludes questions about thirdy-party libraries. IMO, it is in no
> way OT to direct someone to an appropriate resource.[/color]

Agreed.

[Julie]

Re: Formatting decimal places

Jeff Schwab wrote:[color=blue]
>
> Claudio Puviani wrote:[color=green]
> > "Jeff Schwab" <jeffplus@comca st.net> wrote
> >[color=darkred]
> >>Claudio Puviani wrote:
> >>
> >>>These libraries are NOT the core standard C++
> >>>language/libraries which is the topic of this newsgroup.
> >>
> >>Where is that topic stated?[/color]
> >
> >
> > http://www.parashift.com/c++-faq-lit...t.html#faq-5.9
> >
> > "Only post to comp.lang.c++ if your question is about the C++ language itself.
> > For example, C++ code design, syntax, style, rules, bugs, etc. Ultimately this
> > means your question must be answerable by looking into the C++ language
> > definition as determined by the ISO/ANSI C++ Standard document, and by planned
> > extensions and adjustments."
> >
> > Clearly, this excludes third party libraries, unless they somehow made it into
> > the ISO/ANSI C++ Standard document.[/color]
>
> This excludes questions about thirdy-party libraries. IMO, it is in no
> way OT to direct someone to an appropriate resource.[/color]

That last statement is true only if qualified:

....if there is no suitable implementation or construct in C++
_or_
if a C++ solution is provided in addition to the redirection.

So, this is what the original respondent should have said to make an on-topic
post:
[color=blue]
> I trying to format my output to display a set number of decimal
> places. I have been trying to use the <iomanip> setprecision(), but
> that will only display the total number of digits. Can someone please
> help me???? Thanks.[/color]

Use std::fixed, as in

cout << std::fixed << std::setprecisi on(3) << 1.23456789;

Alternatively, you can look into the third party boost library, specifically
boost::format.

[Jeff Schwab]

Re: Formatting decimal places

Julie wrote:[color=blue]
> Jeff Schwab wrote:
>[color=green]
>>Claudio Puviani wrote:
>>[color=darkred]
>>>"Jeff Schwab" <jeffplus@comca st.net> wrote
>>>
>>>
>>>>Claudio Puviani wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>These libraries are NOT the core standard C++
>>>>>language/libraries which is the topic of this newsgroup.
>>>>
>>>>Where is that topic stated?
>>>
>>>
>>>http://www.parashift.com/c++-faq-lit...t.html#faq-5.9
>>>
>>>"Only post to comp.lang.c++ if your question is about the C++ language itself.
>>>For example, C++ code design, syntax, style, rules, bugs, etc. Ultimately this
>>>means your question must be answerable by looking into the C++ language
>>>definition as determined by the ISO/ANSI C++ Standard document, and by planned
>>>extensions and adjustments."
>>>
>>>Clearly, this excludes third party libraries, unless they somehow made it into
>>>the ISO/ANSI C++ Standard document.[/color]
>>
>>This excludes questions about thirdy-party libraries. IMO, it is in no
>>way OT to direct someone to an appropriate resource.[/color]
>
>
> That last statement is true only if qualified:
>
> ...if there is no suitable implementation or construct in C++[/color]

Boost *is* a suitable implementation in C++.

[Julie]

Re: Formatting decimal places

Jeff Schwab wrote:[color=blue]
>
> Julie wrote:[color=green]
> > Jeff Schwab wrote:
> >[color=darkred]
> >>Claudio Puviani wrote:
> >>
> >>>"Jeff Schwab" <jeffplus@comca st.net> wrote
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>Claudio Puviani wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>>These libraries are NOT the core standard C++
> >>>>>language/libraries which is the topic of this newsgroup.
> >>>>
> >>>>Where is that topic stated?
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>http://www.parashift.com/c++-faq-lit...t.html#faq-5.9
> >>>
> >>>"Only post to comp.lang.c++ if your question is about the C++ language itself.
> >>>For example, C++ code design, syntax, style, rules, bugs, etc. Ultimately this
> >>>means your question must be answerable by looking into the C++ language
> >>>definition as determined by the ISO/ANSI C++ Standard document, and by planned
> >>>extensions and adjustments."
> >>>
> >>>Clearly, this excludes third party libraries, unless they somehow made it into
> >>>the ISO/ANSI C++ Standard document.
> >>
> >>This excludes questions about thirdy-party libraries. IMO, it is in no
> >>way OT to direct someone to an appropriate resource.[/color]
> >
> >
> > That last statement is true only if qualified:
> >
> > ...if there is no suitable implementation or construct in C++[/color]
>
> Boost *is* a suitable implementation in C++.[/color]

I can't believe you still don't understand what I'm saying. I'll try to
clarify:

....if there is no suitable implementation in the standard C++ library or no
suitable construct in the native C++ language