VB.NET Write number formating

Question

Have a bit of code ported from VB6 to VB.NET. It uses Write and WriteLine all the way to produce output files.

Now, I need to compare outputs from original and ported code, but there's one tiny problem with number formatting. For instance whereas VB6 code Writes just .5, the VB.NET code produces 0.5, instead of .0005 (in original) it writes 5E-4, etc.

How can I make VB.NET's Write to write numbers in the same format as VB6? The option of refactoring writing code to include formatting step is not acceptable.

Answer 1

In VB.NET, you could use the String.Format function in your Write/WriteLine calls.

Example:

Console.WriteLine(String.Format("{0:c}", price))

More information on formatting strings can be found here.

Answer 2

Have you checked out the function Microsoft.VisualBasic.Format?

Answer 3

• Write and WriteLine are normally used with Input and LineInput therefore the data should still be able to be read and written in the same fashion.
• If you are doing this because the output is for a third party program then you may just have to bite the bullet and search and replace using a simple recorded macro (Ctrl+Shift+R) or search and replace using (Ctrl+H). Neither of these is very difficult!
• Welcome to .NET! When you say you ported from VB6 to VB.NET that means using new concepts and adapting new methods of doing things. Simply running the built in upgrade is not porting to .NET!
• You might try something along the lines of Write(handle, arg.ToString("#.####")) instead of the aforementioned String.Format call.
• You don't mention the reason why you need the data written in the same fashion as earlier?
• Refactoring code is not acceptable..... hrm... care to explain that one? (If it's anything but laziness, people will listen.)