sprintf function's arguments and formats in matlab

Question

I'v read and re-read the help about the function sprintf in matlab but I do not understand everything about this function and the format they talk about.

I was asking myself the logic behind the function formats.

If I run the example

sprintf('%05d%s%02d%s%02d',546,'.',1,'.',3)

I get

00546.01.03

which is logic, since the first number (546) is written as an integer and with 5 digits, the second is a character, and so on... But if now I try this

sprintf('%05d%s%02d%s%02d',546,'.',1,'.',3,4)

I get

00546.01.0300004

the first part is the same as above... But the last part of it (00004) has the format '%05d', that corresponds to the first format I entered in the function's arguments. My question is then Does the first format become the 'default' format ?

By trying this

sprintf('%05d%s%02d%s%02d',546,'.',1,'.',3,4,56)

and getting this

00546.01.03000048

I think the answer is no... But why ? And what is then the logic behind those arguments?

Thanks for your help !

Or could it be that it forms a sort of loop ?

mwoua
– mwoua

2013-07-10 10:45:48 +00:00
Commented Jul 10, 2013 at 10:45 — mwoua
– mwoua, Commented Jul 10, 2013 at 10:45

Shai · Accepted Answer · 2013-07-10 10:52:40Z

3

You are providing sprintf more arguments than there are %s in the format string. Therefore, sprintf re-uses the format string from begining:

sprintf('%05d%s%02d%s%02d',546,'.',1,'.',3,4,56)

result:

00546.01.03000048

         ^  
         starting fromat anew printing 00004 for %05d with 4

The final '8' character is 56 printed as '%s' (if you want to check it out the ascii code of '8' (the char) is 56!)

answered Jul 10, 2013 at 10:52

Shai

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