Formatting Numbers

The Format() function provides options for formatting numbers with thousands separators, decimal points, geographic symbols, p-values, and so on. The following example shows a basic format for a fixed decimal column.

Format( x, 10, 2, "Use thousands separator");

The format starts with the number to be formatted. Then you can specify the width of the number, the number of decimal places, and whether to use a thousands separator.

Here are other examples:

Format( x, "Currency", 20, <<Use Locale(0) );

	// ignores computer locale and uses a period for the decimal separator

Format( x, "Currency", 20, "Use thousands separators" );

Format( x, "m/d/y", 10 );

Format( x, "Precision", 10, 2, "Keep trailing zeroes", "Keep all whole digits" );

Format( x, "Latitude DDD", "PUNDIR"); // "PUN" for punctuation, "DIR" for direction, PUNDIR for both

Format( x, "Custom", Formula( Abs( value ) ), 15 );

The syntax for Function() arguments is shown in Format(x, width|<width, decimal places>, <"Use thousands separator">) in the JSL Syntax Reference. You can also find the argument names and options in the data table Column Info window.

Date-Time Functions and Formats and Currency provide details about formatting date-time values and currency.

Matrix Box, Number Col Box, Number Col Edit Box, Number Edit Box

To format numbers in Matrix Box(), Number Col Box(), Number Col Edit Box(), and Number Edit Box(), send the Set Format message to the display box. You can then specify the same arguments as for the Format() function, such as the following:

<<Set Format( 10, 2, "Use thousands separator");

<<Set Format( "Currency", "EUR", 20 );

The syntax for Set Format arguments is shown in number col box<<Set Format(<width>|<width, decimal places>, <"Use thousands separator">) in the JSL Syntax Reference. You can also find the argument names and options in the data table Column Info window.

Note: You must always precede the number of decimal places with the width.