Numerical formatting using String.Format

Question

Are there any codes that allow for numerical formatting of data when using string.format?

Answer 1

Yes, you can specify the formatting after a : in the {} placeholder.

specifier	type	format	output (double 1234.56)
0	zero placeholder	{0:00.000}	1234.560
#	digit placeholder	{0:#.##}	1234.56
.	decimal point placeholder	{0:0.0}	1234.6
,	thousand separator	{0:0,0}	1,235
%	percentage	{0:0%}	123456%

In addition there is the group separator ; this is useful for varying the format, depending on the value of the parameter passed. For example:

string.Format("{0:£#,##0.00;(£#,##0.00);Nothing}", value);

This will output "£1,240.00" if passed 1243.56. It will output the same format bracketed if the value is negative "(£1,240.00)", and will output the string "Nothing" if the number is zero.

Answer 2

Yes, you could format it this way:

string.Format("Format number to: {0 : #.00}", number);
string.Format("Format date to: {0 : MM/dd/yyyy}", date);

Answer 3

There are a number. This MS site is probably the best place to look

Answer 4

Here is another very good reference that compliments what Keith mentioned.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/2547864/msnetformattingstrings

Answer 5

As Keith said above. The most common one I use is currency:

String.Format("{0:c}", 12000);

Which would output £12,000.00