Format string, a la printf fashion

[Nituvious]

I wrote a function that formats a string similar to printf() in C.
It's very slow compared to printF, though. Would love tips on improvement!

Code: Select all

EnableExplicit

Procedure.s formatString(string.s, *data_a = 0, *data_b = 0, *data_c = 0, *data_d = 0, *data_e = 0, *data_f = 0, *data_g = 0)
	
	; format a string, like PrintF()
	; this is slower than printf() in C
	; in a for (x=0; x<20000; x++) the difference between the two is (on my system) around 40-50%...
	
	Protected.s toInsert, _string = string, format
	Protected.l cs, ci, cd, cf, tFormat, count, iteration, location

	; get number of times we need to deal with this string
	cs.l = CountString(string.s, "%s")
	ci.l = CountString(string.s, "%i")
	cd.l = CountString(string.s, "%d")
	cf.l = CountString(string.s, "%f")
	tFormat.l = cs.l + ci.l + cd.l + cf.l
	
	; vvvv slower than above? vvvv
	;tFormat.l = CountString(string.s, "%s") + CountString(string.s, "%i") + CountString(string.s, "%d") + CountString(string.s, "%f")

	For count.l = 1 To tFormat.l
		iteration.l = count.l - 1

		location.l = FindString(_string.s, "%", 0) ; 
		format.s = Mid(_string.s, location, 2)
		Select format.s
			Case "%i"
				Select iteration
					Case 0 : toInsert = Str(PeekL(*data_a))
					Case 1 : toInsert = Str(PeekL(*data_b))
					Case 2 : toInsert = Str(PeekL(*data_c))
					Case 3 : toInsert = Str(PeekL(*data_d))
					Case 4 : toInsert = Str(PeekL(*data_e))
					Case 5 : toInsert = Str(PeekL(*data_f))
					Case 6 : toInsert = Str(PeekL(*data_g))
				EndSelect
			Case "%s"
				Select iteration
					Case 0 : toInsert = PeekS(*data_a)
					Case 1 : toInsert = PeekS(*data_b)
					Case 2 : toInsert = PeekS(*data_c)
					Case 3 : toInsert = PeekS(*data_d)
					Case 4 : toInsert = PeekS(*data_e)
					Case 5 : toInsert = PeekS(*data_f)
					Case 6 : toInsert = PeekS(*data_g)
				EndSelect
			Case "%d"
				Select iteration
					Case 0 : toInsert = Hex(*data_a)
					Case 1 : toInsert = Hex(*data_b)
					Case 2 : toInsert = Hex(*data_c)
					Case 3 : toInsert = Hex(*data_d)
					Case 4 : toInsert = Hex(*data_e)
					Case 5 : toInsert = Hex(*data_f)
					Case 6 : toInsert = Hex(*data_g)
				EndSelect
			Case "%f"
				Select iteration
					Case 0 : toInsert = StrF(PeekF(*data_a))
					Case 1 : toInsert = StrF(PeekF(*data_b))
					Case 2 : toInsert = StrF(PeekF(*data_c))
					Case 3 : toInsert = StrF(PeekF(*data_d))
					Case 4 : toInsert = StrF(PeekF(*data_e))
					Case 5 : toInsert = StrF(PeekF(*data_f))
					Case 6 : toInsert = StrF(PeekF(*data_g))
				EndSelect
			Default : toInsert = "[FORMAT_ERROR]"
		EndSelect
		_string.s = RemoveString(_string.s, format.s, #PB_String_CaseSensitive, location.l, 1)
		_string.s = InsertString(_string.s, toInsert.s, location)
	Next count.l

	ProcedureReturn _string.s

EndProcedure

DisableExplicit

OpenConsole()

time.s = FormatDate("%mm/%dd/%yyyy", Date())
teeth.l = 5
PrintN(formatString("Today is: %s and I only have %i teeth left in my head!", @time, @teeth))
Print("Press any key to continue...")

While Not Inkey() : Delay(10) : Wend

[STARGÅTE]

Oke, but mk-soft had already made ​​a well-made version is ready (with width, precision, special characters ...).
or is printf different then sprintf ?
Format string with some values like sprintf (C) - Update

[Nituvious]

Oke, but mk-soft had already made ​​a well-made version is ready (with width, precision, special characters ...).
or is printf different then sprintf ?
Format string with some values like sprintf (C) - Update

Well, the purpose of this was to mimick PrintF()'s way of formatting a string. I didn't see mk-soft's code until you posted it but his is a much much better way of doing the same thing and then some.

My apologizes!