[R] write fixed format

[Jeffrey Horner]

YIHSU CHEN wrote:
> Dear R users;
> 
> Is there a function in R that I can put "text" with proper alignments in 
> a fixed format.  For instance, if I have three fields: A, B and C, where 
> both A and C are text with 3 characters and left alignment; B is a 
> numeric one with 2 decimals and 3 integer space digits.   How can I put 
> the following row in a file? (note there is a space between a and 2, and 
> after b.) (A=aaa, B=23.11 and C=bb)
> "aaa 23.11bb "

Use sprintf:

 > A="aaa"
 > B=23.11
 > C="bb"
 > sprintf("%s %.2f%s",A,B,C)
[1] "aaa 23.11bb"

Be sure to read the documentation for sprintf, as you'll want to fully 
understand left and right adjustment, and field width and precision.

Best,

Jeff
-- 
http://biostat.mc.vanderbilt.edu/JeffreyHorner