Format Numeric Value with Leading Spaces

Question

I am trying to format a numeric value with leading spaces, to pack the string out to a given length, thus:-

mystring = mynumber.ToString ("format-string")

but am having no luck finding the correct format string. I have seen the question here and tried the answer suggested, but it doesn't work. For 123.4,

.ToString ("####.#")        gets "123.4"
.ToString ("6:####.#")      gets "6:123.4"
.ToString ("0,6:####.#")    gets "06:0,123.4"
.ToString ("{####.#}")      gets "{123.4}"
.ToString ("{6:####.#}")    gets "{6:123.4}"
.ToString ("{0,6:####.#}")  gets "{06:0,123.4}"

Is there anything I can try to get " 123.4"?

Do you always want 1 leading space or do you want the string padded to a certain length? — Jodrell, Jul 19 '12 at 10:15
@Jodrell, I want the string padded to a certain length; sorry I didn't make that clear. — Brian Hooper, Jul 19 '12 at 10:16
To be clear, the "certain length" that the questioner seemed strangely unwilling to state, is 6. — cja, Jun 23 '15 at 16:45

score 8 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 19 '12 at 10:18

8

You can't use the ToString method for that format, you need to use the String.Format method:

String.Format("{0,6:####.#}", number)

answered Jul 19 '12 at 10:18

Guffa

687,336
108
737
1,005

are you sure that makes a difference? – Jodrell Jul 19 '12 at 10:20
@Jodrell: Yes. The ",6" part can't be used with ToString as there is no index to attach it to. The ToString method only uses the format string itself, i.e. the part after the colon. – Guffa Jul 19 '12 at 10:23
@Guffa, Thank you. I was beginning to suspect something of that sort. – Brian Hooper Jul 19 '12 at 10:34

Format Numeric Value with Leading Spaces

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