0
$\begingroup$

I wrote this little function to help me export tables with formatted numbers to files: (By the way, if you have suggestions on how to make it more efficient and compact, it would be great)

Options[exportSimpleFormatTable] = {numberFormat -> NumberForm, 
formArgument -> {2, 1}, fortranOutput -> False}

exportSimpleFormatTable[filename_?StringQ, vectorcolumn__, 
opts : OptionsPattern[]] := 
Module[{len, list, formfu, formarg, numfun, formattedlist},
list = List@vectorcolumn;
len = Length@list;
list = Thread[list];
numfun = OptionValue[numberFormat];
formarg = OptionValue[formArgument];
formfu = Function[numfun[#, formarg]];
 If[OptionValue[fortranOutput] == True, 
  formfu = Function[ScientificForm[#,
    NumberFormat -> (Row[{#1, "e", If[ToString[#3] == "", 0, #3]}] &)]]];
  formattedlist = MapAt[formfu, list, {All, All}];
  Print[formattedlist];
  Export[filename, formattedlist, "Table"]
]

When I use it like this:

 zzz = {0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1., 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5}
 bbb = {0.992, 0.855, 1.411, 1.083, 0.744, 1.292, 1.363, 1.988, 1.111, 
 0.7112, 1.573, 1.1423}

Everything works fine:

exportSimpleFormatTable["test.dat", zzz, bbb, 2*zzz, 
 fortranOutput -> False]

 (* {{0.4,1.0,0.8},{0.5,0.9,1.0},{0.6,1.4,1.2},{0.7,1.1,1.4},{0.8,0.7,1.6},{0.9,1.3,1.8},{1.0,1.4,2.0},{1.1,2.0,2.2},{1.2,1.1,2.4},{1.3,0.7,2.6},{1.4,1.6,2.8},{1.5,1.1,3.0}} *)

FilePrint["test.dat"]

0.4 1.0 0.8
0.5 0.9 1.0
0.6 1.4 1.2
0.7 1.1 1.4

However when I set the fortranOutput option to True, I get:

exportSimpleFormatTable["test.dat", zzz, bbb, 2*zzz, fortranOutput -> True]

{{4.e-1,9.92e-1,8.e-1},{5.e-1,8.55e-1,1.e0},{6.e-1,1.411e0,1.2e0},{7.e-1,1.083e0,1.4e0},{8.e-1,7.44e-1,1.6e0},{9.e-1,1.292e0,1.8e0},{1.e0,1.363e0,2.e0},{1.1e0,1.988e0,2.2e0},{1.2e0,1.111e0,2.4e0},{1.3e0,7.112e-1,2.6e0},{1.4e0,1.573e0,2.8e0},{1.5e0,1.1423e0,3.e0}}

But FilePrint gives me unevaluated things:

FilePrint["test.dat"]

ScientificForm[0.4, NumberFormat -> (Row[{#1, "e", If[ToString[#3] == "", 0, #3]}] & )] ScientificForm[0.992, NumberFormat -> (Row[{#1, "e", If[ToString[#3] == "", 0, #3]}] & )]   ScientificForm[0.8, NumberFormat -> (Row[{#1, "e", If[ToString[#3] == "", 0, #3]}] & )]
ScientificForm[0.5, NumberFormat -> (Row[{#1, "e", If[ToString[#3] == "", 0, #3]}] & )] ScientificForm[0.855, NumberFormat -> (Row[{#1, "e", If[ToString[#3] == "", 0, #3]}] & )]   ScientificForm[1., NumberFormat -> (Row[{#1, "e", If[ToString[#3] == "", 0, #3]}] & )]

So, there is a difference between the internal Print and the Export. However when I use this accepted answer: Problem with NumberForm when exporting, which suggests wrapping ScientificForm with OutputForm, I get something even weirder:

exportSimpleFormatTable[filename_?StringQ, vectorcolumn__, 
  opts : OptionsPattern[]] := 
 Module[{len, list, formfu, formarg, numfun, formattedlist},
  list = List@vectorcolumn;
  len = Length@list;
  list = Thread[list];
  numfun = OptionValue[numberFormat];
  formarg = OptionValue[formArgument];
  formfu = Function[numfun[#, formarg]];
  If[OptionValue[fortranOutput] == True, 
   formfu = 
    Function[
     OutputForm@
      ScientificForm[#, 
       NumberFormat -> (Row[{#1, "e", 
            If[ToString[#3] == "", 0, #3]}] &)]]];
  formattedlist = MapAt[formfu, list, {All, All}];
  Print[formattedlist];
  Export[filename, formattedlist, "Table"]
  ]


exportSimpleFormatTable["test.dat", zzz, bbb, 2*zzz, 
  fortranOutput -> True]

{{4.e-1,9.92e-1,8.e-1},{5.e-1,8.55e-1,1.e0e0},{6.e-1,1.411e0e0,1.2e0e0},{7.e-1,1.083e0e0,1.4e0e0},{8.e-1,7.44e-1,1.6e0e0},{9.e-1,1.292e0e0,1.8e0e0},{1.e0e0,1.363e0e0,2.e0e0},{1.1e0e0,1.988e0e0,2.2e0e0},{1.2e0e0,1.002e2,2.4e0e0},{1.3e0e0,7.112e-1,2.6e0e0},{1.4e0e0,1.573e0e0,2.8e0e0},{1.5e0e0,1.1423e0e0,3.e0e0}}

I get this strange e0e0's which don't happen for e-1 (or other exponents as I have checked)

But the FilePrint now works fine (although with that strange error in e0e0):

FilePrint["test.dat"]

4.e-1   9.92e-1 8.e-1
5.e-1   8.55e-1 1.e0e0
6.e-1   1.411e0e0   1.2e0e0
7.e-1   1.083e0e0   1.4e0e0
8.e-1   7.44e-1 1.6e0e0
9.e-1   1.292e0e0   1.8e0e0
1.e0e0  1.363e0e0   2.e0e0
1.1e0e0 1.988e0e0   2.2e0e0
1.2e0e0 1.002e2 2.4e0e0
1.3e0e0 7.112e-1    2.6e0e0
1.4e0e0 1.573e0e0   2.8e0e0
1.5e0e0 1.1423e0e0  3.e0e0

Does somebody have an idea what is going here?? I tried to use different forms of Map, Thread, and so on, but nothing works. Also other solutions here on SE don't solve my problem.

Improve this question
$\endgroup$

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
1
$\begingroup$ 
 NumberFormat -> (Row[{#1, "e", If[#3 == "", "0", #3]}] &)

The elements of NumberFormat need to be strings, so the 0 needs to be a "0" than it works.

btw #1,#2,#3 are of course allready strings so ToString on any of these slots is not necessary.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
1
  • $\begingroup$ Thanks, I oversaw that. Now it works fine and I get the e0 at the end which is what I wanted. $\endgroup$
    – Santiago
    Apr 19, 2015 at 11:59

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.