Formatting Numeric Results
You can change the format of numeric results
using the Numerical Format window.
To open the Numerical Format Window, choose the Modules -> Results Numerical Format  menu
item.
The Numerical Format window contains a list of standard formats and provides additional options for defining custom formats. The Sample input section at the bottom of the window provides Input and Output fields that let you enter an arbitrary numeric value and see how it looks when the current format is applied.
To choose a standard format, select its name from the Numerical Format list.
If a standard format doesn't display data the way you want, you can define a custom number format using the controls in the Format Parameters input section. Click the OK button to accept the new number format. The new format will become the ETBX default if the Make Default Format box is selected.
Note that changes to the number format are not reflected in a module's results until the next calculation.
Format Parameters
Two types of numeric formats are available in ETBX: Scientific and Decimal.
The Scientific format has the general form d.dddE+ddd. There is exactly one digit to the left of the decimal point. The number of digits to the right of the decimal point is set by the Displayed Precision input field.
The decimal format has the general form d.ddd. The number of digits to the left of the decimal point can vary. The number of digits to the right of the decimal point is set by the Displayed Precision input field.
A detailed description of other numeric format parameters is given below.
Displayed
Precision |
The Displayed Precision input field specifies an upper limit on the number of digits displayed to the right of the decimal point. Note that this setting only affects the display of the number. ETBX maintains full precision for all calculations. |
Exponential
Threshold |
The Exponential Threshold input field controls how large a number's absolute value must be before ETBX displays it using exponential notation. For example, if the Exponential Threshold is set to 3, all numbers outside the intervals [ 0.001, 1000.0] and [-1000.0, -0.001] will be displayed using exponential notation. This input is only used in conjunction with the Scientific format. |
| Field Width |
The Field Width input specifies the minimum field width. If the converted value results in fewer characters than the specified field width, then spaces are used to pad the value to the specified width.
In general, the Field Width is only used to format columnar data such as data tables. ETBX modules ignore the field width when the output is a single number.
If the field width is too small to display the formatted number, ETBX will fill the field with '#' characters. ETBX will automatically display a Decimal number in Scientific format if necessary to fit the specified field width. |
Trailing
Zeros |
The Trailing Zeros checkbox controls whether trailing zeros are used to pad the converted value so that the number of digits to the right of the decimal point equals Displayed Precision. For example, if Displayed Precision equals 3, then 3/2 will display as 1.5 if Trailing Zeros is unchecked and 1.500 if Trailing Zeros is checked. |
Auto Field
Width |
The Auto Field Width checkbox controls whether the field width should be automatically calculated. This setting is only valid for the Scientific format. |
Standard Number Formats
ETBX provides the following built-in number formats:
| Name |
Field
Width |
Displayed
Precision |
Exponential
Threshold
|
Example |
| Short Scientific |
15 |
6 |
0 |
|
| Long Scientific |
21 |
6 |
0 |
|
| Short Decimal |
18 |
12 |
N/A |
|
Long Decimal |
24 |
12 |
N/A |
|
|
