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localeconv(3C)


localeconv -- get numeric formatting information

Synopsis

   include <locale.h>
   

struct lconv *localeconv (void);

Description

localeconv sets the components of an object with type struct lconv (defined in locale.h) with the values appropriate for the formatting of numeric quantities (monetary and otherwise) according to the rules of the current locale [see setlocale(3C)]. The definition of struct lconv is given below (the values for the fields in the C locale are given in comments):
   char *decimal_point;		/* "." */
   char *thousands_sep;		/* "" (zero length string) */
   char *grouping;		/* "" */
   char *int_curr_symbol;	/* "" */
   char *currency_symbol;	/* "" */
   char *mon_decimal_point;	/* "" */
   char *mon_thousands_sep; 	/* "" */
   char *mon_grouping;		/* "" */
   char *positive_sign;		/* "" */
   char *negative_sign;		/* "" */
   char int_frac_digits;		/* CHAR_MAX */
   char frac_digits;		/* CHAR_MAX */
   char p_cs_precedes;		/* CHAR_MAX */
   char p_sep_by_space;		/* CHAR_MAX */
   char n_cs_precedes;		/* CHAR_MAX */
   char n_sep_by_space;		/* CHAR_MAX */
   char p_sign_posn;		/* CHAR_MAX */
   char n_sign_posn;		/* CHAR_MAX */

The members of the structure with type char * are strings, any of which (except decimal_point) can point to ``""'', to indicate that the value is not available in the current locale or is of zero length. The members with type char are nonnegative numbers, any of which can be CHAR_MAX (defined in the limits.h header file) to indicate that the value is not available in the current locale. The members are the following:


char *decimal_point
The decimal-point character used to format non-monetary quantities.

char *thousands_sep
The character used to separate groups of digits to the left of the decimal-point character in formatted non-monetary quantities.

char *grouping
A string in which each element is taken as an integer that indicates the number of digits that comprise the current group in a formatted non-monetary quantity. The elements of grouping are interpreted according to the following:

CHAR_MAX
No further grouping is to be performed.

0
The previous element is to be repeatedly used for the remainder of the digits.

other
The value is the number of digits that comprise the current group. The next element is examined to determine the size of the next group of digits to the left of the current group.

char *int_curr_symbol
The international currency symbol applicable to the current locale, left-justified within a four-character space-padded field. The character sequences should match with those specified in: ISO 4217:1987 Codes for the Representation of Currency and Funds.

char *currency_symbol
The local currency symbol applicable to the current locale.

char *mon_decimal_point
The decimal point used to format monetary quantities.

char *mon_thousands_sep
The separator for groups of digits to the left of the decimal point in formatted monetary quantities.

char *mon_grouping
A string in which each element is taken as an integer that indicates the number of digits that comprise the current group in a formatted monetary quantity. The elements of mon_grouping are interpreted according to the rules described under grouping.

char *positive_sign
The string used to indicate a nonnegative-valued formatted monetary quantity.

char *negative_sign
The string used to indicate a negative-valued formatted monetary quantity.

char int_frac_digits
The number of fractional digits (those to the right of the decimal point) to be displayed in an internationally formatted monetary quantity.

char frac_digits
The number of fractional digits (those to the right of the decimal point) to be displayed in a formatted monetary quantity.

char p_cs_precedes
Set to 1 or 0 if the currency_symbol respectively precedes or succeeds the value for a nonnegative formatted monetary quantity.

char p_sep_by_space
Set to 1 or 0 if the currency_symbol respectively is or is not separated by a space from the value for a nonnegative formatted monetary quantity.

char n_cs_precedes
Set to 1 or 0 if the currency_symbol respectively precedes or succeeds the value for a negative formatted monetary quantity.

char n_sep_by_space
Set to 1 or 0 if the currency_symbol respectively is or is not separated by a space from the value for a negative formatted monetary quantity.

char p_sign_posn
Set to a value indicating the positioning of the positive_sign for a nonnegative formatted monetary quantity. The value of p_sign_posn is interpreted according to the following:

0
Parentheses surround the quantity and currency_symbol.

1
The sign string precedes the quantity and currency_symbol.

2
The sign string succeeds the quantity and currency_symbol.

3
currency_symbol.

4
The sign string immediately succeeds the currency_symbol.

char n_sign_posn
Set to a value indicating the positioning of the negative_sign for a negative formatted monetary quantity. The value of n_sign_posn is interpreted according to the rules described under p_sign_posn.

Files


/usr/lib/locale/locale/LC_MONETARY
LC_MONETARY database for locale

/usr/lib/locale/locale/LC_NUMERIC
LC_NUMERIC database for locale

Return values

localeconv returns a pointer to the filled-in object. The structure pointed to by the return value may be overwritten by a subsequent call to localeconv.

Usage

The following table illustrates the rules used by four countries to format monetary quantities.

Country Positive format Negative format International format
Italy L.1.234 -L.1.234 ITL.1.234
Netherlands F 1.234,56 F -1.234,56 NLG 1.234,56
Norway kr1.234,56 kr1.234,56- NOK 1.234,56
Switzerland SFrs.1,234.56 SFrs.1,234.56C CHF 1,234.56

 Country       Positive format   Negative format   International format
 Italy         L.1.234           -L.1.234          ITL.1.234
 Netherlands   F 1.234,56        F -1.234,56       NLG 1.234,56
 Norway        kr1.234,56        kr1.234,56-       NOK 1.234,56
 Switzerland   SFrs.1,234.56     SFrs.1,234.56C    CHF 1,234.56

For these four countries, the respective values for the monetary members of the structure returned by localeconv are as follows:

  Italy Netherlands Norway Switzerland
int_curr_symbol "ITL." "NLG " "NOK " "CHF "
currency_symbol "L." "F" "kr" "SFrs."
mon_decimal_point "" "," "," "."
mon_thousands_sep "." "." "." ","
mon_grouping "\3" "\3" "\3" "\3"
positive_sign "" "" "" ""
negative_sign "-" "-" "-" "C"
int_frac_digits 0 2 2 2
frac_digits 0 2 2 2
p_cs_precedes 1 1 1 1
p_sep_by_space 0 1 0 0
n_cs_precedes 1 1 1 1
n_sep_by_space 0 1 0 0
p_sign_posn 1 1 1 1
n_sign_posn 1 4 2 2

                     Italy    Netherlands   Norway   Switzerland
 int_curr_symbol     "ITL."   "NLG "        "NOK "   "CHF "
 currency_symbol     "L."     "F"           "kr"     "SFrs."
 mon_decimal_point   ""       ","           ","      "."
 mon_thousands_sep   "."      "."           "."      ","
 mon_grouping        "\3"     "\3"          "\3"     "\3"
 positive_sign       ""       ""            ""       ""
 negative_sign       "-"      "-"           "-"      "C"
 int_frac_digits     0        2             2        2
 frac_digits         0        2             2        2
 p_cs_precedes       1        1             1        1
 p_sep_by_space      0        1             0        0
 n_cs_precedes       1        1             1        1
 n_sep_by_space      0        1             0        0
 p_sign_posn         1        1             1        1
 n_sign_posn         1        4             2        2

References

montbl(1M), setlocale(3C)
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