Functions for formatting numeric data

Date format

You can format dates based on supplied pattern and locale.

Examples:

Expression: dateString = new Date();

Results in: Mon Aug 05 2013 10:04:33 GMT-0500 (CDT)
Expression: dateString = format.formatDate(dateString, "yyyy/MM/dd/HH:mm:ss")

Results in: 2013/08/05/10:04:12
Expression: dateString = format.formatDateWithLocale(dateString, "yyyy.MM.dd G 'at' HH:mm:ss z", "fr")

Results in: 2013.08.05 ap. J.-C. at 10:04:12 CDT

Currency format

You can format currency amount based on locale.

Examples: amount=10987236.99

Expression: amount = format.formatCurrencyWithLocale (amount, "fr")

Results in: 10 987 236,99 ¤
Expression: amount = format.formatCurrency(amount)

In this example, the default system locale is used to format the amount.

Results in: $10,987,236.99

Decimal formatting

You can format numbers based on pattern and locale.

Examples: number=10987236.99

Expression: number = format.formatDecimalWithLocale (number, "###,###.###", "fr")

Results in: 10 987 236,99
Expression: number = format.formatDecimal(number, "###,###.###")

Results in: 10,987,236.99

String format

If dynamic values need to be inserted into a sentence, this option enables the use of a placeholder. You can replace the placeholder with a value that is retrieved from a query. This format function makes use of locale to do locale specific formatting.

Examples:

Expression: format.formatString("Joe", "Hello %s, how are you?")

Results in: hello Joe, how are you
Expression: format.formatStringWithLocale ("Joe", "hello %s, how are you?", "fr")

COBOL style numbers

If a number has COBOL style formatting with zero padding in front and the negative sign is placed at the end, this formatting function removes the leading zeroes and move the negative sign to the front.

Example: number = 0000000000500.00-

Expression: number = format.converTrailingSign(number)

Results in: 500