string

string ( expression : number { , format : string } ) : string
string ( expression : any { , format : integer { , addTime : time }} ) : string

Parameter	Type		Description
expression	any	→	Expression for which to return the string form (can be number, date, time, string, boolean, undefined, or null)
format	string, integer	→	Format to use
addTime	time	→	Time to add on if expression is a date
Result	string	←	String form of the expression

Description

The string command returns the string form of the numeric, date, time, string or boolean expression you pass in expression.

If you do not pass the optional format parameter, the string is returned with the appropriate default format. If you pass format, you can force the result string to be of a specific format.

The optional addTime parameter adds a time to a date in a combined format. It can only be used when the expression parameter is a date (see below).

Numeric Expressions

If expression is a numeric expression (number or integer), you can pass an optional string format. The following elements are supported in format:

Elements in format	Name	Description
#	Placeholder	Returns nothing for a leading or trailing zero
0	Placeholder	Returns 0 for a leading or trailing zero
^	Placeholder	Returns a space for a leading or trailing zero
*	Placeholder	Returns an asterisk for a leading or trailing zero
any	Static characters	You can use any characters in format. When used alone, or placed before or after placeholders, the characters are always returned. For example, with a "$##0" format, a dollar sign is always returned because it is placed before the placeholders. If characters are placed between placeholders, they are returned only if there are digits are on both sides. For example, with a "###.##0" format, a comma is returned only if the expression contains at least four digits. Spaces are treated as characters.
"positive;negative;zero"	Three-parts format to handle positive, negative, and zero values	You specify up to three parts by separating them with semicolons. If you use just one part, Qodly uses it for all numbers, placing a minus sign in front of negative numbers. If you use two parts, Qodly uses the first part for positive numbers and zero, and the second part for negative numbers. Here is an example of a number display format that shows dollar signs and commas, places negative values in parentheses, and does not display zeros: "$###,##0.00;($###,##0.00);". Notice that the presence of the second semicolon instructs Qodly to use nothing to return zero. The following format is similar except that the absence of the second semicolon instructs Qodly to use the positive number format for zero: "$###,##0.00;($###,##0.00)". In this case, the returned string for zero would be "$0.00.". Note that the third part (zero) is not interpreted and does not accept replacement characters. If you enter "###;###;#", a zero value will be returned "#". In other words, what you actually enter is what will be returned for the zero value.
"&"+number	Scientific notation	A "&" followed by a number to specify the number of digits you want to return. For example, the format "&3" would return "759.62e as "7.60e+2". The scientific notation format is the only format that will automatically round the number. Note in the example that the number is rounded up to 7.60e+2 instead of truncating to 7.59e+2.
"&x"	Hexadecimal	Returns hexadecimal numbers using the "0xFFFF" format
"&$"	Hexadecimal	Returns hexadecimal numbers using the "$FFFF" format.
"&xml"	XML notation	Returns a number compliant with XML standard rules. In particular, the decimal separator character will be a period "." in all cases

Following are some examples:

Example	Result	Comments
string(2^15)	"32768"	Default format
string(2^15;"###,##0 Inhabitants")	"32,768 Inhabitants"
string(1/3;"##0.00000")	"0.33333"
string(1/3)	"0.3333333333333"	Default format (13 digits)
string(Arctan(1)*4)	"3.14159265359"	Default format (13 digits)
string(Arctan(1)*4;"##0.00")	"3.14"
string(-1;"&x")	"0xFFFFFFFF"
string(-1;"&$")	"$FFFFFFFF"
string(0 ?+ 7;"&x")	"0x0080"
string(0 ?+ 7;"&$")	"$80"
string(0 ?+ 14;"&x")	"0x4000"
string(0 ?+ 14;"&$")	"$4000"
string(50.3;"&xml")	"50.3"	Always "." as decimal separator
string(num(1 = 1);"True;;False")	"True"
string(num(1 = 2);"True;;False")	"False"
string(log(-1))	""	Undefined number
string(1/0)	"INF"	Positive infinite number
string(-1/0)	"-INF"	Negative infinite number

Date Expressions

If expression is a date expression and if you omit the format parameter, the string is returned using the default format.

In the format parameter, you can pass:

• either one of the following predefined format constants (integer value):

Constant	Comment
kBlankIfNullDate	must be added to the format, indicates that in the case of a null value, Qodly must return an empty string instead of zeros
kDateRFC1123
kInternalDateAbbreviated
kInternalDateLong	February 18, 2023
kInternalDateShort	02/18/2023
kInternalDateShortSpecial	02/18/23 (but 02/18/1896 or 02/18/2096)
kISODate	2023-02-18T00:00:00
kISODateGMT	2023-02-18T16:11:53Z
kSystemDateAbbreviated	Sat, February 18, 2023
kSystemDateLong	Saturday, February 18, 2023
kSystemDateShort	02/18/2023

Examples:

 var vsResult : string
 vsResult = string(!2023-18-02!) //vsResult gets "02/18/23"
 vsResult = string(!2023-18-02!,kInternalDateLong) // vsResult gets "February 18, 2023"
 vsResult = string(!2023-18-02!,kISODateGMT) // vsResult gets "2023-02-18T00:00:00" in France

• or a customized format built upon a pattern (string value)

Examples:

 var vsResult : string
 vsResult = string(!2023-11-27!,"EEEE d MMMM y GGGG") //"Monday 27 November 2023 Anno Domini"
 vsResult = string(!2023-11-27!,"E dd/MM/yyyy zzzz") //"Mon 27/11/2023 GMT+01:00" in French timezone

addTime parameter

You can also pass a time in the addTime parameter. This parameter lets you combine a date with a time so that you can generate time stamps in compliance with current standards (kISODateGMT and kDateRFC1123 constants). The addTime parameter can only be used when the expression parameter is a date.

Notes for combined date/time formats:

• The kISODateGMT format corresponds to the ISO8601 standard, containing a date and a time expressed with respect to the time zone (GMT).

    var mydate : string
    mydate = string(currentDate,kISODateGMT,currentTime) // returns, for instance, 2023-02-18T16:11:53Z
  

  Note that the "Z" character at the end indicates the GMT format. If you do not pass the addTime parameter, the command returns the date at midnight (local time) expressed in GMT time, which may cause the date to be moved forward or back depending on the local time zone:

   var mydate : string
   mydate = string(!18/02/2023!,kISODateGMT) // returns 2023-02-17T22:00:00Z in France

• The kISODate format is similar to the kISODateGMT, except that it expresses the date and time without respect to the time zone. Note that since this format does not comply with the ISO8601 standard, its use should be reserved for very specific purposes.

   var mydate : string
   mydate = string(!18/02/2023!,kISODate) // returns 2023-02-18T00:00:00 regardless of the time zone
   mydate = string(currentDate,kISODate,currentTime) // returns 2023-02-18T18:11:53
  

• The kDateRFC1123 format formats a date/time combination according to the standard defined by RFC 822 and 1123. You need this format for example to set the expiration date for cookies in an HTTP header.

   var mydate : string
   mydate = string(currentDate,kDateRFC1123,currentTime) // returns, for example Sat, 18 Feb 2023 13:07:20 GMT
  

  The time expressed takes the time zone into account (GMT zone). If you only pass a date, the command returns the date at midnight (local time) expressed in GMT time which may cause the date to be moved forward or back depending on the local time zone:

   var mydate : string
   mydate = string(currentDate,kDateRFC1123) // returns Fri, 17 Feb 2023 22:00:00 GMT
  

Time Expressions

If expression is a time expression, the string is returned using the default HH:MM:SS format. In the format parameter, you can pass:

• either one of the following predefined format constants (integer value):

Constant	Comment
kBlankIfNullTime	must be added to the format, indicates that in the case of a null value, Qodly must return an empty string instead of zeros
kHHMM	01:02
kHHMMAMPM	01:02
kHHMMSS	01:02:03
kHourMin	1 hour 2 minutes
kHourMinSec	1 hour 2 minutes 3 seconds
kISOTime	0000-00-00T01:02:03. Corresponds to the ISO8601 standard and contains, in theory, a date and a time. Since this format does not support combined dates/times, the date part is filled with 0s
kMinSec	62 minutes 3 seconds
kMMSS	62:03:00
kSystemTimeLong	1:02:03 AM HNEC (Mac only)
kSystemTimeLongAbbreviated	1•02•03 AM (Mac only)
kSystemTimeShort	01:02:03

Examples:

 var vsResult : string
 vsResult = string(?17:30:45?,kHHMMAMPM) // "5:30 PM"
 vsResult = string(?17:30:45?,kHourMinSec) // "17 hours 30 minutes 45 seconds"

• or a customized format built upon a pattern (string value)

Examples:

 var vsResult : string
 vsResult = string(!2023-11-27!,"EEEE d MMMM y GGGG") //"Monday 27 November 2023 Anno Domini"
 vsResult = string(!2023-11-27!,"E dd/MM/yyyy zzzz") //"Mon 27/11/2023 GMT+01:00" in French timezone

String Expressions

If expression is of the string type, the command returns the same value as the one passed in the parameter. This can be useful more particularly in generic programming using pointers. In this case, the format parameter, if passed, is ignored.

Boolean Expressions

If expression is of the boolean type, the command returns the string "True" or "False". In this case, the format parameter, if passed, is ignored.

Undefined Expressions

If expression is evaluated to undefined, the command returns an empty string. This is useful when you expect the result of an expression (e.g. an object attribute) to be a string, even if it can be undefined. In this case, the format parameter, if passed, is ignored.

Null Expressions

If expression is evaluated to null, the command returns the "null" string. This is useful when you expect the result of an expression (e.g. an object attribute) to be a string, even if it can be null. In this case, the format parameter, if passed, is ignored.

See also

bool
date
num
timeString
timestamp