Dynamic string format specifier

[=?Utf-8?B?Um9ubmllIFNtaXRo?=]

Hello,

I would like to be able to accept a format string in the form of say {0:D2}
as an input from a dialog box, and then dynamically format the output string
based on this new format specifier.

So if I have something like this in my code:
String.Format("The number will look like this {0:D2}",3);

It would give:
"The number will look like this: 03"

BUT I want the number of zeroes to be user defined at runtime, so
that the user can ask for a width of say four instead {0:D4}
"The number will look like this: 0003"

I've tried various things but I end up getting the actual format as part of
the string:
"The number will look like this: 3{0:D4}"

Many thanks,

Ronnie

[Walter Wang [MSFT]]

Hi Ronnie,

You can use code like this:

Console.WriteLine("Please enter a format: ");
string format = Console.ReadLine();
Console.WriteLine(string.Format("The number will look like this: " +
format, 3));
Console.WriteLine("Press ENTER to close.");
Console.ReadLine();
Let me know if I've misunderstood your question or you need more
information. Thanks.
Sincerely,
Walter Wang (wa****@online.microsoft.com, remove 'online.')
Microsoft Online Community Support

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[=?Utf-8?B?Um9ubmllIFNtaXRo?=]

My goodness! So simple - how did I miss it?
Many thanks Walter.
Ronnie

"Walter Wang [MSFT]" wrote:

Hi Ronnie,

You can use code like this:

Console.WriteLine("Please enter a format: ");
string format = Console.ReadLine();
Console.WriteLine(string.Format("The number will look like this: " +
format, 3));
Console.WriteLine("Press ENTER to close.");
Console.ReadLine();
Let me know if I've misunderstood your question or you need more
information. Thanks.
Sincerely,
Walter Wang (wa****@online.microsoft.com, remove 'online.')
Microsoft Online Community Support

==================================================
Get notification to my posts through email? Please refer to
http://msdn.microsoft.com/subscripti...ult.aspx#notif
ications. If you are using Outlook Express, please make sure you clear the
check box "Tools/Options/Read: Get 300 headers at a time" to see your reply
promptly.

Note: The MSDN Managed Newsgroup support offering is for non-urgent issues
where an initial response from the community or a Microsoft Support
Engineer within 1 business day is acceptable. Please note that each follow
up response may take approximately 2 business days as the support
professional working with you may need further investigation to reach the
most efficient resolution. The offering is not appropriate for situations
that require urgent, real-time or phone-based interactions or complex
project analysis and dump analysis issues. Issues of this nature are best
handled working with a dedicated Microsoft Support Engineer by contacting
Microsoft Customer Support Services (CSS) at
http://msdn.microsoft.com/subscripti...t/default.aspx.
==================================================

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.