FUNCTIONUnder review

PadL

PadL(xExp,nLen,[cFill]) -> cRet

Pads a string on the left.

PadLAdvPL

01 · OVERVIEW

Overview

Final length is nLen. xExp is converted to string; omitted cFill uses space, otherwise only its first character is used. Inputs longer than nLen are truncated; nonpositive nLen yields empty text. The community sample compares C/L/R; this adaptation uses visible fill characters. (Sources: refs. 1–2.)

02 · SYNTAX

Syntax

PadL(xExp,nLen,[cFill]) -> cRet

Parameters

xExp

AnyRequired

Value converted to text.

nLen

NumericRequired

Final length.

cFill

CharacterOptional

Fill character; defaults to space.

Return value

String of the specified length, or empty for nonpositive nLen.

03 · PRACTICAL EXAMPLE

Commented example

#Include "Protheus.ch"

User Function Ed566()
    // Visible padding, no data changes.
    ConOut(PadL("AB",6,"-"))
    ConOut(cValToChar(Len(PadL("AB",6,"-"))))
Return Nil

Expected result

Result: ----AB; length 6. Under review: editorial example neither compiled nor run in Protheus. Check includes, release, RDD and context before testing.

BEST PRACTICES

Check length before padding identifiers: truncation can lose information. Define encoding policy; formatting does not validate a business key or field.
Under review: editorial example neither compiled nor run in Protheus. Check includes, release, RDD and context before testing.