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bertram
Power User
Joined: 13 Nov 2005
Posts: 52
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 Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2007 9:37 pm Post subject: is TEXT(A1;"#########0') broken? |
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I need to write Fortran-type fixed column data strings
I prefer spaces to separate columns instead of leading-0's
Is it possible?
| Code: | A1(a number cell) contains the value -123456 (a number)
=TEXT(A1;"0") works as described >> "-123456"
=TEXT(A1;"+0;-0") works as described >> "-123456"
=TEXT(A1;"0000000000") works as described >> "-000123456"
=TEXT(A1;"#########0") is broken, i.e. >> "-123456" (len=7, should be 10)
=TEXT(A1;" 0") is broken, i.e. >> "-123456" (len=7, should be 18)
=TEXT(A1;"#####0000000000") is broken, i.e. >> "-0000123456" (len=11, should be 15) |
Is there a way to left pad with spaces using a format string in a TEXT function?? |
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David
Super User
Joined: 24 Oct 2003
Posts: 5668
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 6:13 am Post subject: Re: is TEXT(A1;"#########0') broken? |
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| bertram wrote: | | Is there a way to left pad with spaces using a format string in a TEXT function?? |
Yes; related to an old programming trick: Have a distant cell [E1] contain [filled with] a series of the space character. Then, in B1, have this, supposing that you want the length of string to be 10:
=CONCATENATE(LEFT(E1;10 - LEN(A1));A1)
I must admit some difficulty picturing exactly what you need though from your description. You can separate items with an intermediate empty column of width of your own choice.
David. |
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keme
Moderator
Joined: 30 Aug 2004
Posts: 2732
Location: Egersund, Norway
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| Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 2:54 pm Post subject: |
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Not with a format string, as far as I can see. It's possible with a formula, though.
David's formula works nicely. A different approach, which I've used:
=REPT(" ";10-LEN(A1))&A1
Both are somewhat unforgiving when it comes to format overflow (unlike the spreadsheet format codes). David's solution will return the last n digits without any error indication, while mine will return an error code. What you prefer depends on your Fortran version, I guess...
And btw, the text function is not broken, though it may seem so to a Fortran programmer. As far as I can see from documentation, the format string is not intended to produce as rigid output as that of a Fortran format. |
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