How do I specify Maximum Field Widths

Gremlin has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

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Re: How do I specify Maximum Field Widths by chipmunk (Parson) on Mar 06, 2001 at 07:38 UTC
One option is to use printf/sprintf, using %#.#s to specify a minimum and maximum field width: `perl -e 'printf "%5.5s\n", 1234567890;' 12345` [download]	[reply] [d/l]
Re: How do I specify Maximum Field Widths by bjelli (Pilgrim) on Mar 06, 2001 at 17:14 UTC
If you have lots and lots of output you might want to use an output format. You declare the format once, and then use it repeatedly (with <kbd>write</kbd>) In the example I use a format for STDOUT, you can also do it with file-handles. `format STDOUT = just 5 digits: @>>>> $n, . $n = 123456789; write; $n = 987654321; write; $n = 333; write;` [download] There is a man-page just about formats: perlman:perlform -- Brigitte 'I never met a chocolate I didnt like' Jellinek http://www.horus.com/~bjelli/ http://perlwelt.horus.at	[reply] [d/l]
Re: How do I specify Maximum Field Widths by dfog (Scribe) on Mar 06, 2001 at 07:31 UTC
I think what you are looking for is `$Field = substr($Field, 0, $MaxFieldWidth);` [download] This will truncate the variable $Field so it is only $MaxFieldWidth characters long. Dave Update : Sorry about the type. I got a bit ahead of myself in hitting the submit without checking what I wrote. D	[reply] [d/l]
Re: Re: How do I specify Maximum Field Widths by dvergin (Monsignor) on Mar 06, 2001 at 07:34 UTC
...the correction that was here is no longer needed.	[reply]
Re: How do I specify Maximum Field Widths by metaperl (Curate) on Mar 06, 2001 at 21:21 UTC
The CPAN way to do this is Text::FixedLength and my supplement module Text::FixedLength::Extra	[reply]