Archived:Converting numbers to C strings

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Article Metadata

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Tested with

Devices(s): Nokia N93

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Compatibility

Platform(s): S60 3rd Edition, FP1

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Article

Keywords: sprintf(), snprintf()

Created: nymanaki (04 Apr 2008)

Last edited: hamishwillee (18 Jun 2012)

Overview

sprintf() and snprintf() functions can be used in Open C to convert numeric values into formatted numeral strings. Both of these functions return the number of characters printed.

• sprintf() takes three parameters. The first holds the converted number, the second parameter is a string containing a format specifier, and the third is the number the user wants to convert into a string.
• snprintf() is a safer version of sprintf() because there is also a fourth size parameter. snprintf() writes at most the given size-1 of the characters printed into the output string.

Note: In order to use this code, you need to install Open C plug-in.

This snippet can be self-signed.

MMP file

The following libraries are required:

LIBRARY libc.lib

Source file

#include <stdio.h> // sprintf(), snprintf()
 
#define MAX_STR_LEN 8
 
int main(void) 
{
  int printed = 0;
  char numeral_string[MAX_STR_LEN]; 
 
  /* - sprintf() - */ 
  printed = sprintf(numeral_string, "%d", 123);
  printf("123 in decimal is %s\n", numeral_string);
  printf("printed characters: %d\n", printed);
 
  printed = sprintf(numeral_string, "%x", 123);
  printf("123 in hexadecimal is %s\n", numeral_string);
  printf("printed characters: %d\n", printed);
 
  /* - snprintf() - */  
  printed = snprintf(numeral_string, 7, "%o", 123);
  printf("123 in octal is %s\n", numeral_string);
  printf("printed characters: %d\n", printed);
 
  /* only first three characters + trailing \0 is written to the buffer */
  printed = snprintf(numeral_string, 4, "%d", 1234567890);  
  printf("123|4567890 in decimal is %s\n", numeral_string);
  printf("printed characters: %d\n", printed);
 
  return 0;
}

Postconditions

Four different number to string conversions are executed and displayed to the standard output.