Disappearing Zeros

Getting Started Newbie Questions
#1

Is there any way to stop extra zeros from being dropped when changing a decimal number string into a true number?

EG:

If I go tonumber(“5.00”) it results in just 5

A function of my app is for the user to create a number 1 digit at a time (Like a calculator). I’m using the Fontmanager library to make bitmap fonts (for WP8) instead of a straight string. But part of the function of that library is to turn any number strings into true numbers with tonumber().

So when I have someone trying to make up the number 5.004 for example, everytime they get to the 5.0 part it just keeps changing it to 5

#2

Look at string.format()

local stringWithZeros = string.format("%0.2f", number)

print(stringWithZeros)

Rob

#3

Hi Rob, unfortunately that doesn’t seem to work. All that does is force all number to now have 2 decimal places of zeros. What I need is to stop having whole numbers turned into whole numbers so to speak. They can have as many zeros as they want.

EG: The user puts in 5.000005607

While they are punching in those numbers 1 at a time it keeps turning the “whole” number into a whole number. 5.0 immediately turns into 5

#4

I see.  Can you maintain your display as a string of digit characters and not convert it to a number?   Or you can still use string format, though it will require you to keep track of the length you need:

local len = 3

local numToPrint = string.format("%0." … len … “f”, num)

As you keep adding 0’s after the period, keep incrementing len…  thought it will be easier to just take the input text and keep it text.

Rob

#5

Look at string.format()

local stringWithZeros = string.format("%0.2f", number)

print(stringWithZeros)

Rob

#6

Hi Rob, unfortunately that doesn’t seem to work. All that does is force all number to now have 2 decimal places of zeros. What I need is to stop having whole numbers turned into whole numbers so to speak. They can have as many zeros as they want.

EG: The user puts in 5.000005607

While they are punching in those numbers 1 at a time it keeps turning the “whole” number into a whole number. 5.0 immediately turns into 5

#7

I see.  Can you maintain your display as a string of digit characters and not convert it to a number?   Or you can still use string format, though it will require you to keep track of the length you need:

local len = 3

local numToPrint = string.format("%0." … len … “f”, num)

As you keep adding 0’s after the period, keep incrementing len…  thought it will be easier to just take the input text and keep it text.

Rob