A question about printf

[Why Tea]

int printf(const char *fmt,...)

The fmt is const, indicating that it can't be changed during runtime.
If I want to print a series of integers that I only know the largest
value beforehand, instead of testing each range and printf each with
different width (say 1 space + max number of digits) accordingly, is
there a better way of doing it?

/Why Tea

[Richard Heathfield]

Re: A question about printf

Why Tea said:

int printf(const char *fmt,...)
>
The fmt is const, indicating that it can't be changed during runtime.

No, it means printf won't change it.

Consider this code:

#include <stdio.h>

int main(void)
{
char format[8] = "%Xs";
int i = 9;
while(i 1)
{
format[1] = i-- + '0';
printf(format, "X\n");
}
return 0;
}

Perfectly legal C, honest! :-)

If I want to print a series of integers that I only know the largest
value beforehand, instead of testing each range and printf each with
different width (say 1 space + max number of digits) accordingly, is
there a better way of doing it?

Yes, but the best answer to your question depends on precisely what you want
to do. This isn't clear from your question.

Let's take the following data as being your "series of integers":

0 1 10 100 1000 10000

How would you want the output to appear?

--
Richard Heathfield
"Usenet is a strange place" - dmr 29/7/1999

http://www.cpax.org.uk

email: normal service will be restored as soon as possible. Please do not
adjust your email clients.

[Chris Dollin]

Re: A question about printf

Why Tea wrote:

int printf(const char *fmt,...)
>
The fmt is const, indicating that it can't be changed during runtime.

No, the *fmt's are const, indicating that /printf/ won't change them when
it's called.

If I want to print a series of integers that I only know the largest
value beforehand, instead of testing each range and printf each with
different width (say 1 space + max number of digits) accordingly, is
there a better way of doing it?

I don't understand what you're asking for. Examples? And have you
read up on what the printf format options are -- including the
* magic number?

--
Chris "hantwig efferko VOOM!" Dollin
"- born in the lab under strict supervision -", - Magenta, /Genetesis/

[Why Tea]

Re: A question about printf


Richard Heathfield wrote:

Why Tea said:
>

int printf(const char *fmt,...)

The fmt is const, indicating that it can't be changed during runtime.

>
No, it means printf won't change it.
>
Consider this code:
>
#include <stdio.h>
>
int main(void)
{
char format[8] = "%Xs";
int i = 9;
while(i 1)
{
format[1] = i-- + '0';
printf(format, "X\n");
}
return 0;
}
>
Perfectly legal C, honest! :-)
>
>

If I want to print a series of integers that I only know the largest
value beforehand, instead of testing each range and printf each with
different width (say 1 space + max number of digits) accordingly, is
there a better way of doing it?

>
Yes, but the best answer to your question depends on precisely what you want
to do. This isn't clear from your question.
>
Let's take the following data as being your "series of integers":
>
0 1 10 100 1000 10000
>
How would you want the output to appear?

Thanks Richard. You have actually answered my question. But I will
still give you an example and I would like to see your solution :)

1) 1, 3 , 4, 12, 56, 67 =001, 003, 004, 056, 067
2) 1, 3, 4, 112 =0001, 0003, 0004, 0012
3) 1, 3, 4, 1122 =00001, 00003, 00004, 01122

We can also assume the numbers are store in an int array.

[Richard Heathfield]

Re: A question about printf

Why Tea said:

<snip>

>
Thanks Richard. You have actually answered my question. But I will
still give you an example and I would like to see your solution :)
>
1) 1, 3 , 4, 12, 56, 67 =001, 003, 004, 056, 067
2) 1, 3, 4, 112 =0001, 0003, 0004, 0012
3) 1, 3, 4, 1122 =00001, 00003, 00004, 01122
>
We can also assume the numbers are store in an int array.

You also said you knew the largest number. So the next step is to calculate
how many digits it has. Once you've done that:

for(i = 0; i < n; i++)
{
printf("%0*d\n" , digits + 1, data[n]);
}

The 0 means "pad to the left with 0s".
The * means "make this field as wide as... well, read a parameter to find
out, okay?" (I was amazed and delighted when I first discovered this
feature of printf.)
The d, of course, you know already.

--
Richard Heathfield
"Usenet is a strange place" - dmr 29/7/1999

http://www.cpax.org.uk

email: normal service will be restored as soon as possible. Please do not
adjust your email clients.

[Why Tea]

Re: A question about printf

>

for(i = 0; i < n; i++)
{
printf("%0*d\n" , digits + 1, data[n]);
}
>
The 0 means "pad to the left with 0s".
The * means "make this field as wide as... well, read a parameter to find
out, okay?" (I was amazed and delighted when I first discovered this
feature of printf.)

I know how you felt. I've just experienced that. Thanks for sharing!