Conversion of C# decimal values of System.Array in into string

Question

I have a very strange problem in C# application. The problem is consistent, but only on one remote computer. The data below contains decimal numbers. I perform the following simplified operation:

Array data = (Array)get_data(); // array of decimals
StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
sb.Append(data.GetValue(0));
string s = sb.ToString();

This converts numbers like 14.62 into "14,62", i.e comma instead of dot. Later, when I parse this string into double, it generates errors. How to prevent this?

Please note, that I don't have access to that remote computer. I can only adjust the program's code, and then send a new installer.

That's a cultural formatting issue, based on the workstation OS settings. You could force the formatting in ToString(), see msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dwhawy9k(v=vs.110).aspx — DonBoitnott
– DonBoitnott, Commented Jan 21, 2014 at 19:19

L.B · Accepted Answer · 2014-01-21 19:17:54Z

3

StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();

sb.Append(((double)data.GetValue(0)).ToString(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));

See: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/shxtf045(v=vs.110).aspx

answered Jan 21, 2014 at 19:17

L.B

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2 Comments

rossipedia Over a year ago

Why the invariant culture? If this value is displayed, wouldn't it make more sense to pass CultureInfo.CurrentCulture?

rossipedia Over a year ago

Ahh I was assuming the ToString and Parse were happening in the same locale, which of course wouldn't be a problem. If this value is changing locale's, then that would explain it.

Habib · Accepted Answer · 2014-01-21 19:21:18Z

3

You are getting the different output because of the remote computer's culture. Some culture uses , as decimal separators and some uses .. To override that you have to call ToString with CultureInfo.InvariantCulture. You can also use the following one liner which would give you the same thing.

string s = string.Join(",", 
                        data.OfType<decimal>()
                        .Select(r=> r.ToString(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture)));

(I assumed that you needed a delimiter separated string for your data elements, since you were using StringBuilder)

answered Jan 21, 2014 at 19:21

Habib

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1 Comment

Serg Over a year ago

Yes, you assumed correctly, and it's great to know how to convert the whole array. But in my case it's a 2-dimensional array where the first column is decimal and the second - integers. (this is how it comes from an external API). Anyway, many thanks!

CheGueVerra · Accepted Answer · 2014-01-21 19:19:41Z

1

I had a similar issue I cloned the Culture Invariant( makes it en-US)

    private string ConvertPriceFormat(double amount)
{
    string price = string.Empty;

    // NumberFormatInfo of InvariantCulture thousandseparator = "," DecimalSeparator="."
    NumberFormatInfo nfi = (NumberFormatInfo)CultureInfo.InvariantCulture.NumberFormat.Clone();

    // make Changes for the Injection
    nfi.NumberGroupSeparator = "";

    // Format the price with the defined format
    price = amount.ToString("n", nfi);

    return price;
}

Just need to change it to go from string to double

answered Jan 21, 2014 at 19:19

CheGueVerra

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