Windows PowerShell Pocket Reference

Chapter 9. .NET String Formatting

String Formatting Syntax

The format string supported by the format (-f) operator is a string that contains format items. Each format item takes the form of:

{index[,alignment][:formatString]}

<index> represents the zero-based index of the item in the object array following the format operator.

<alignment> is optional and represents the alignment of the item. A positive number aligns the item to the right of a field of the specified width. A negative number aligns the item to the left of a field of the specified width.

<formatString> is optional and formats the item using that type’s specific format string syntax.

Standard Numeric Format Strings

Table 9-1 lists the standard numeric format strings. All format specifiers may be followed by a number between 0 and 99 to control the precision of the formatting.

Table 9-1. Standard numeric format strings

Format specifier (Name)	Description	Example
C or c (Currency)	A currency amount.	PS >"{0:C}" -f 1.23 $1.23
D or d (Decimal)	A decimal amount (for integral types). The precision specifier controls the minimum number of digits in the result.	PS >"{0:D4}" -f 2 0002
E or e (Scientific)	Scientific (exponential) notation. The precision specifier controls the number of digits past the decimal point.	PS >"{0:E3}" -f [Math]::Pi 3.142E+000
F or f (Fixed-point)	Fixed point notation. The precision specifier controls the number of digits past the decimal point.	PS >"{0:E3}" -f [Math]::Pi 3.142
G or g (General)	The most compact representation ...