PaddedForm

PaddedForm[expr,n]

prints with all numbers in expr padded to leave room for a total of n digits.

PaddedForm[expr,{n,f}]

prints with approximate real numbers having exactly f digits to the right of the decimal point.

Details and Options

By default, PaddedForm pads with spaces on the left to leave room for n digits.
PaddedForm pads with zeros on the right in approximate real numbers.
The length n specified in PaddedForm counts only digits, and not signs, breaks between digits, and so on.
PaddedForm has the same options as NumberForm, with the following changes: [List of all options]
NumberPadding {" ","0"} strings to use for left and right padding
You can use PaddedForm to align columns of numbers.
The typeset form of PaddedForm[expr] is interpreted the same as expr when used in input. »
When an input evaluates to PaddedForm[expr], PaddedForm does not appear in the output. »

List of all options

DefaultPrintPrecision	Automatic	default print digits for machine numbers
DigitBlock	Infinity	number of digits between breaks
ExponentFunction	Automatic	function to apply to exponents
ExponentStep	1	steps by which exponents can increase
NumberFormat	Automatic	function used to assemble the mantissa, base, and exponent
NumberMultiplier	"×"	string to use to indicate multiplication
NumberPadding	{" ","0"}	strings to use for left and right padding
NumberPoint	"."	decimal point string
NumberSeparator	{",", " "}	string to insert at breaks between blocks
NumberSigns	{"-",""}	strings to use for signs of negative and positive numbers
ScientificNotationThreshold	{-5,6}	where to begin using scientific notation
SignPadding	False	whether to insert padding after the sign

Examples

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Basic Examples (2)

Display the first 10 digits of a numeric approximation to :

Display a number with 3 precise digits and 4 digits to the right of the decimal:

Scope (5)

The default display for a machine number:

Display more digits than the default:

Display fewer digits:

Format a complex number:

Format a high-precision number:

Change the display of numbers in a vector:

A matrix:

Change the display of inexact numbers in a mixed expression:

Options (11)

DigitBlock (2)

A default integer:

Digits separated in blocks of length 3:

Use five‐digit blocks with spaces as separators:

ExponentFunction (1)

Compute approximate powers of :

Restrict exponents to multiples of 3:

Include exponents only for powers greater than 10:

ExponentStep (1)

Default formatting to 10 digits:

Restrict exponent to multiples of 6:

NumberFormat (1)

Display numbers in a Fortran‐like form:

Display only the mantissas:

Display the exponents after converting to scientific form:

NumberMultiplier (1)

Use the default multiplier :

Use an asterisk (*) instead:

NumberPadding (1)

The default pads on the left:

Pad with spaces on the right:

Pad with 0s on the right:

NumberPoint (1)

The default is a period:

Display with a comma (,) instead:

NumberSeparator (1)

The default separator is a comma (,):

Use spaces instead:

NumberSigns (1)

The default includes negative signs but not positive signs:

Include positive signs as well:

Use words instead of symbols:

SignPadding (1)

The default pads before signs:

Pad between signs and numbers instead:

Applications (1)

Display approximations of with increasing precision and number of decimal digits:

Align numbers on the decimal:

Display in a tabular form:

Properties & Relations (5)

PaddedForm and NumberForm use the same mantissas and exponents by default:

ScientificForm has a single digit to the left of the decimal:

EngineeringForm uses exponents that are multiples of 3:

AccountingForm does not have exponents:

Convert a number to base 2:

Represent the number precise to 3 decimal digits in base 2:

Reconstruct the base-10 number precise to 3 digits:

Change the display of numbers in MatrixForm or TableForm:

The typeset form of PaddedForm[expr,n] is interpreted the same as expr when used in input:

Copy the output and paste it into an input cell. The 1.2 is interpreted as 1.23:

When an input evaluates to PaddedForm[expr,n], PaddedForm does not appear in the output:

Out is assigned the value 1.23, not PaddedForm[1.23,2]:

Possible Issues (3)

Placeholder zeros may be needed if the requested precision is small:

By default, room is set aside for the larger of the two number signs:

Even when an output omits PaddedForm from the top level, it is not stripped from subexpressions:

The output does not have PaddedForm in it:

However, the variable e does have PaddedForm in it, which may affect subsequent evaluations:

The product is not evaluated due to the intervening PaddedForm:

Assign variables first and then apply PaddedForm to the result to maintain computability:

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