C-formatted Output

The service c_output provides methods for using the C function sprintf to convert constants to strings. It provides single specification output conversion interface, supporting all sprintf capabilities, except for 'p' conversion, 'n' reflection and '*' reference (see: Webmonkeys c_guide: sprintf function for details).

The input is a <specification>, whose BNF is:

 <specification> ::= <letter>(<cspec_value>)
                     <value>

 <letter>        ::= c | d | e | E | f | g | G | i | o | s | u | x | X

 <cspec_value>   ::= <value>
                     <cspec> , <value>

 <cspec>         ::= <parameters>
                     "<flags>"
                     "<flags>" , <parameters>

 <parameters>    ::= <integer>
                     <integer> , <integer>

 <flag>          ::= - | + | <space> | 0 | #

 <flags>         ::= <flag>
                     <flag> <flags>

 <value>         ::= <number>
                     <string>

Four entries are provided:

c_output#prepare(<specification>, <format_string>, <value>)
transforms <specification> into output <format_string> and <value>.

Note that the input <value> may be converted to an output <value> so as to be consistent with the <specification> <letter>. Errors are displayed.
e.g.
```
    @X = 776
    @c_output#prepare("E"("+", 10, 20, X?), Format^, Value^)
```
produces output:
```
    Value = 776.0
    Format = %+10.20E
```
c_output#prepare(<specification>, <format_string>, <value>, <errors>)
is just like 1, except that <errors> is a (possibly empty) stream of diagnostics.
c_output#sprint(<specification>, <formatted_output>) where <formatted_output> is the formatted (possibly converted) <value>. In case of error, a stream of diagnostics is displayed.
e.g.
```
    @X = 1234567.89
    @c_output#sprint('G'('+', 10, 5, X?), FO^)
```
produces output:
```
    @FO = +1.2346E+06
```
c_output#sprint_list(<specification_list>, <formatted_output_list>, <errors_list>)
where lt;specification_list> is a (square-bracketed) list of <specification>,
<formatted_output_list> is the corresponfing list of <formatted_output>, and
<errors_list> is the correspoding list of <errors>.

Possible items in the <errors> stream are largely self-explanatory:

```
unrecognised_specification
```
```
unrecognised_flag(<character>)
```
```
invalid_parameter(<term>)
```
```
cannot_convert(<term>(<term>))
```

This document is licensed under: Gnu General Public License - Version 3