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