CSFormat

The standard way of string formatting in C++ is sprintf or << .

The .NET Framework has its String class, which has the formatting function String.Format[^].

It is safer and easier to use than sprintf.

CSFormat will offer an alternative that can be used from native C++ code.

Usage

Have a look at demo.cpp.

#include "FormatString.h"
#include <string>
#include <iostream>
#include <time.h>
using namespace std;
int main()
{
	string demo = CSFormat("{0,20}|{1,-10}|{2}|{3,30:T}|", 11, "aaa", 3.14, time(NULL));
	cout << demo << endl;
	return 0;
}

Compile

need c++ 11 support

Extension

(1) overload operator <<

friend ostream& operator << (ostream& fout,MyType& a);

(2)define new format class

//a example of extension
template <>
class CArg<time_t> : public CArgBase
{
public:
	CArg(time_t arg) : _arg(arg) {}
	virtual void format(std::ostringstream &ss, const std::string& fmt)
	{
		if (fmt[0] == 'T')
		{
			_formatTime(ss, _arg);
		}
		else
		{
			ss << _arg;
		}
	}
private:
	time_t _arg;
};