NAME

printf - formatted print


SYNOPSIS

printf(fd, s, arg1, ...)

integer fd

character s(ARB)


DESCRIPTION

Printf converts, formats, and prints its arguments onto file 'fd'
under control of the first argument.
The first argument is a character string which contains two types
of objects: plain characters, which are simply copied to the output
stream, and conversion specifications,
each of which causes conversion and printing of the next
successive argument to printf.

Each conversion specification is introduced by the character %.
Following the %, there may be


an optional minus sign "-" which specifies left adjustment of
the converted argument in the indicated field;

an optional digit string specifying a field width;
if the converted argument has fewer characters than the field width
it will be blank-padded on the left (or right, if the left-adjustment
indicator has beeen given) to make up the field width;

an optional period "." which serves to separate the field width from
the next digit string;

an optional digit string (precision) which specifies the number of
digits to appear after the decimal point, for e- and f-conversion,
or the maximum number of characters to be printed from a string;

a character which indicates the type of conversion to be applied.


The conversion characters and their meanings are:

d,o,x  The integer argument is converted to decimal, octal, or hexadecimal
notation respectively.

f   The argument is converted to decimal notation in the style "[-]ddd.ddd"
where the number of d's after the decimal point is equal to the
precision specification for the argument.
If the precision is missing, 6 digits are given;
if the precision is explicitly 0, no digits and no decimal point
are printed.
The argument is expected to be of type "real".

e   The argument is converted in the style "[-]d.ddde+-dd" where there
is one digit before the decimal point and the number after is equal to
the precision specification for the argument;
when the precision is missing, 6 digits are produced.
The argument is expected to be of type "real".

c  The argument character is printed.

s   The argument is taken to be a character string and characters from
the string are printed until an EOS is found or until the number of
characters indicated by the precision specification is reached.

If no recognizable character appears after the %, that character is printed;
thus % may be printed by use of the string %%.
In no case does a non-existent or small field width cause
truncation of a field; padding takes place only if
the specified field width exceeds the actual width.


SEE ALSO

putdec, putint, putstr, putc, putch, putlin, remark, ctoi, itoc


AUTHORS

Clint Ward, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, and David Hanson, University
of Arizona.


FILES

This package uses routines from the LBL math package.


BUGS/DEFICIENCIES

It is impossible for a routine to 'portably' determine the number of
arguments passed to it.
If your system does provide a way, alter printf accordingly.
If not, you may want to write a macro which provides dummy arguments
to 'printf' whenever it is called with fewer than the number declared.

This version of printf only works with fortran compilers that can
be fooled as the the typing of arguments.
If your compiler is smarter than that, perhaps you can think of
a better way to write this routine.

This package has never been completely tested.
Consider it a starting point for a future, more robust version...