This is DEAD - see format-number-with-string instead

#check-and-format-number To reformat a number using a format string '-£#,##0.##0 /m', '(33 years)', '$ -99.00'.

Checks that the number is a valid number. Based on the format string checks length and whether negative values permitted, pads with zeros/rounds and adds prefix and suffix characters

Format String Can Include:

• negative signs before or after prefix text
• brackets as negative signs
• prefix and suffix texts
• . or , as decimal point
• space or . or , as thousand separators
• space or . or , as thousanths separators
• #, 9 or 0 as number place holders

Format Notes and Examples

Decimal points/thousands separators in the format string:

If a format ends in a . or , then this will be taken as the decimal character UNLESS the same character is used elsewhere so:

• '923324234','#,###.' returns '923,324,234'
• '923324234','#.###,' returns '923.324.234'

If a format only has one of ',' or '.' and the character only appears once it is taken as the decimal point

• '92332,4234','#,###' returns '92332,4234'
• '92332.4234','#.###' returns '92332.4234'

If the character appears twice in the format string it is a separator

• '92332,4234','#,###,###' returns '923,324,234'
• '92332,4234','#.###.###' returns error - value must be an integer

When in doubt '.' in the format string is the decimal point, so

• '92332,4234.45645','#.###,#' returns '923324234.456, 45 To create the same structure with decimalChar as ',', just add a '.' at start or end or extend expression eg
• .#.###,#
• #.###,#.
• #.###.###,#

Padding

A 0 will pad to that position

• '92332.42','## ##0.##0 ##' returns '92 332.420'
• '.42','## ##0.##0 ##' returns '0.420'

Maximums

A 0 or 9 in the last decimal space will cause rounding to that number of places

• '92332.42467','## ##0.##0' returns '92 332.425' A 0 or 9 in the first integer position will limit the size
• '92332.42467','9 ##0.##0' returns 'error - number too large''

Negatives

• '-2332.42343','(# ###.### #)' returns '(2 332.423 43)'
• '-2332.42343','- # ###.### #)' returns '- 2 332.423 43'
• '-2332.42343','# ###.### #-' returns '(2 332.423 43-)'
• '-2332.42343','# ###.### #' returns 'error - must be positive'

Units/Prefix Text

Units can be before or after negative symbols. Prefix text cannot contain number placeholder characters '-23342456,2343278', '$(# ###.### #) per year' returns '$(23 342 456.234 327 8) per year' '-23342456,2343278', '($# ###.### # per year)' returns '($23 342 456.234 327 8 per year)' '-9,342,456.2353278', '$9 ### ##0.00# ###- per year' returns '$9 342 456.235 327 8- per year'; '-9,342,456.2353278', '-$9 ### ##0.00# ### per year' returns '-$9 342 456.235 327 8 per year';

Does not work for:

• structured reference numbers, eg 9999-9999
• ignores and removes leading and trailing spaces (but retains those between pre/post fix and negative symbols etc)