# ftos¶

## Purpose¶

Converts a scalar into a string containing the decimal character representation of that number.

## Format¶

x_str = ftos(x, fmat, field, prec)
Parameters
• x (scalar) – the number to be converted.

• fmat (string) – the format string to control the conversion.

• field (scalar or 2x1 vector) – the minimum field width. If field is 2x1, it specifies separate field widths for the real and imaginary parts of x.

• prec (scalar or 2x1 vector) – the number of places following the decimal point. If prec is 2x1, it specifies separate precisions for the real and imaginary parts of x.

Returns

x_str (string) – contains the decimal character equivalent of x in the format specified.

## Examples¶

You can create custom formats for complex numbers with ftos(). For example,

// Create a complex number
c = complex(24.56124, 6.3224e-2);

field = 1;
prec = 3|5;
fmat = "%lf + %lej is a complex number.";
cc = ftos(c, fmat, field, prec);


results in

cc = "24.561 + 6.32240e-02j is a complex number."


Some other things you can do with ftos():

x = 929.857435324123;
y = 5.46;
z = 5;

field = 1;
prec = 0;
fmat = "%*.*lf";
zz = ftos(z, fmat, field, prec);

field = 1;
prec = 10;
fmat = "%*.*lE";
xx = ftos(x, fmat, field, prec);

field = 7;
prec = 2;
fmat = "%*.*lf seconds";
s1 = ftos(x, fmat, field, prec);
s2 = ftos(y, fmat, field, prec);

field = 1;
prec = 2;
fmat = "The maximum resistance is %*.*lf ohms.";
om = ftos(x, fmat, field, prec);


The results:

zz = "5"

xx = "9.2985743532E+002"

s1 = "929.86 seconds"

s2 = "5.46 seconds"

om = "The maximum resistance is 929.86 ohms."


## Remarks¶

The format string corresponds to the format /jnt (justification, notation, trailing character) slash parameter as follows:

 /rdn "%*.*lf" /ren "%*.*lE" /ron "%#*.*lG" /rzn "%*.*lG" /ldn "%- *.*lf" /len "%- *.*lE" /lon "%-# *.*lG" /lzn "%- *.*lG"

If x is complex, you can specify separate formats for the real and imaginary parts by putting two format specifications in the format string. You can also specify separate fields and precisions. You can position the sign of the imaginary part by placing a + between the two format specifications. If you use two formats, no i is appended to the imaginary part. This is so you can use an alternate format if you prefer, for example, prefacing the imaginary part with a j.

The format string can be a maximum of 80 characters.

If you want special characters to be printed after x, include them as the last characters of the format string.

For example:

 "%*.*lf," right-justified decimal followed by a comma. "%-*.*s " left-justified string followed by a space. "%*.*lf" right-justified decimal followed by nothing. You can embed the format specification in the middle of other text: "Time: %*.*lf seconds."  If you want the beginning of the field padded with zeros, then put a 0 before the first * in the format string: "%0*.*lf" right-justified decimal. If $$prec = 0$$, the decimal point will be suppressed.