printf - formatted output conversion void printf( string format, ... ); The output is sent to this_user(), in the same manner as the write() efun. Implemented by Lynscar (Sean A Reith). This version supports the following as modifiers: <DL> * " " - pad positive integers with a space. * "+" - pad positive integers with a plus sign. * "-" - left adjusted within field size. Note: std (s)printf() defaults to right justification, which is unnatural in the context of a mainly string based language but has been retained for "compatability". * "|" - centered within field size. * "=" - column mode if strings are greater than field size. This is only meaningful with strings, all other types ignore this. Columns are auto-magically word wrapped. * "#" - table mode, print a list of '\\n' separated 'words' in a table within the field size. only meaningful with strings. * a number - specifies the field size, a '*' specifies to use the corresponding arg as the field size. If n is prepended with a zero, then is padded zeros, else it is padded with spaces (or specified pad string). * "." followed by a number - precision of n, simple strings truncate after this (if precision is greater than field size, then field size = precision), tables use precision to specify the number of columns (if precision not specified then tables calculate a best fit), all other types ignore this. * ":" followed by a number - n specifies the fs _and_ the precision, if n is prepended by a zero then it is padded with zeros instead of spaces. * "@" - the argument is an array. the corresponding format_info (minus the "@") is applyed to each element of the array. * "'X'" - The char(s) between the single-quotes are used to pad to field size (defaults to space) (if both a zero (in front of field size) and a pad string are specified, the one specified second overrules). NOTE: to include "'" in the pad string, you must use "\'" (as the backslash has to be escaped past the interpreter), similarly, to include "\" requires "\\\\". </DL> The following are the possible type specifiers. <DL> * % - in which case no arguments are interpreted, and a "%" is inserted, and all modifiers are ignored. * O - the argument is an LPC datatype. The format is suitable for printing any type (useful for debugging) * s - the argument is a string. * d or i - the integer arg is printed in decimal. * c - the integer arg is to be printed as a character. * o - the integer arg is printed in octal. * x - the integer arg is printed in hex. * X - the integer arg is printed in hex (with A-F in capitals). * f - floating point number </DL> See also: sscanf, sprintf Tim Hollebeek Beek@ZorkMUD, Lima Bean, IdeaExchange, and elsewhere