# fmt modifier

The fmt modifier substitutes the column
heading, justification and width settings specified in `"{''} {} {}"` for attributes 3, 9 and 10 of the specified
Attribute-Defining-Item.

## Syntax

```
ADIfmt "{&#39;< column-heading>&#39;} {< just>} {< width>}"
```

## Parameter(s)

| ADI | Specifies the Attribute-Defining-Item for which the specified column-heading, just and width will be substituted for attributes 3, 9 and 10. |
| --- | --- |
| {''} | Specifies the column heading to substitute for attribute 3. The single quotes are required. |
| {} | Specifies the justification to substitute for attribute 9. |
| {} | Specifies the width to substitute for attribute 10. |
Double quotes are required around the entire heading, justification
and width specification.

## Example(s)

Consider the following sort operation:

```
:sort demo.test by a1 a1
Page 1 demo.test 16:17:03 16 Nov 2009

demo.test...... a1....................................................

1 1
2 10
5 100
3 2
4 20

[405] 5 items listed out of 5 items.
```
Let's say we want to sort the a1 column numerically instead
of alphabetically. The sort operation illustrated
below accomplishes this:

```
:sort demo.test by a1 fmt "r5" a1
Page 1 demo.test 16:19:47 16 Nov 2009

demo.test...... a1....................................................

1 1
2 2
3 10
4 20
5 100

[405] 5 items listed out of 5 items.
```
It sorted correctly, but we feel the column width still
is too wide and the data in the a1 column is still aligned to the
left (despite the `fmt "r5"` specification). This is
because the fmt specification only applies to how
the ADI is used for that reference. In this case, we applied it to
a1 only for the sort order. We still need to apply right-justification
for both sort order and display format, but width
for only the display. For example:

```
:sort demo.test by a1 fmt "r" a1 fmt "r10"
Page 1 demo.test 16:22:50 16 Nov 2009

demo.test...... a1........

1 1
2 2
3 10
4 20
5 100

[405] 5 items listed out of 5 items.
```
The example below illustrates running the sort operation using only a width parameter for the display. In this
case, we adjusted the `a1` output column width, but
the default output left justification is unchanged.

```
:sort demo.test by a1 fmt "r" a1 fmt "20"
Page 1 demo.test 16:28:18 16 Nov 2009

demo.test...... a1..............

1 1
3 2
2 10
4 20
5 100

[405] 5 items listed out of 5 items.
```
The following example illustrates listing the number of
orders for the products referenced in the translate statement. Note
how the heading for the 2nd column uses the actual translate statement
as its heading.

```
:list orders eval
"trans(products,productid,productname,&#39;x&#39;)"
Page 1 orders 14:37:45 08 Apr 2010
orders.... trans(products,productid,productname,&#39;x&#39;)

11 Ninja Graph
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88 Ninja Assist
```
Let's say that instead of using
the translate statement as its heading, we want to instead specify
a more user-presentable heading. The example below employs the fmt modifier in the statement to allow specifying an alternate
column heading and a left-justification of 15.

```
:list orders eval
"trans(products,productid,productname,&#39;x&#39;)"
fmt "&#39;Product Name&#39;L15"
Page 1 orders 14:37:45 08 Apr 2010
orders.... Product Name...
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```

## See also

- [eval modifier](https://d3codex.com/access/eval-modifier/)

---
Source: https://d3codex.com/access/fmt-modifier/ - part of the D3Codex reference.