ecvt(3C)             INTERACTIVE UNIX System             ecvt(3C)



          NAME
               ecvt, fcvt, gcvt - convert floating-point number to string

          SYNOPSIS
               char *ecvt (value, ndigit, decpt, sign)
               double value;
               int ndigit, *decpt, *sign;

               char *fcvt (value, ndigit, decpt, sign)
               double value;
               int ndigit, *decpt, *sign;

               char *gcvt (value, ndigit, buf)
               double value;
               int ndigit;
               char *buf;

          DESCRIPTION
               The ecvt function converts value to a null-terminated string
               of ndigit digits and returns a pointer thereto.  The high-
               order digit is nonzero, unless the value is zero.  The low-
               order digit is rounded.  The position of the decimal point
               relative to the beginning of the string is stored indirectly
               through decpt (negative means to the left of the returned
               digits). The decimal point is not included in the returned
               string.  If the sign of the result is negative, the word
               pointed to by sign is nonzero, otherwise it is zero.

               The fcvt function is identical to ecvt, except that the
               correct digit has been rounded for printf ``%f'' (FORTRAN
               F-format) output of the number of digits specified by ndi-
               git.

               The gcvt function converts the value to a null-terminated
               string in the array pointed to by buf and returns buf.  It
               attempts to produce ndigit significant digits in FORTRAN F-
               format if possible, otherwise E-format, ready for printing.
               A minus sign, if there is one, or a decimal delimiter will
               be included as part of the returned string.  (In the POSIX
               environment, the decimal delimiter is dependent on the
               current locale.)  Trailing zeros are suppressed.

          SEE ALSO
               printf(3S), locale(5P).

          BUGS
               The values returned by ecvt and fcvt point to a single
               static data array whose content is overwritten by each call.







          Rev. 1.2                                                   Page 1