idlastro / Miscellaneous (Non-Astronomy) Procedures: F_FORMAT

[Source code]

NAME
F_FORMAT
PURPOSE
Choose a nice floating format for displaying an array of REAL data.
EXPLANATION
Called by TVLIST, IMLIST.
CALLING SEQUENCE
fmt = F_FORMAT( minval, maxval, factor, [ length ] )
INPUTS
MINVAL - REAL scalar giving the minimum value of an array of numbers
        for which one desires a nice format.
MAXVAL - REAL scalar giving maximum value in array of numbers
OPTIONAL INPUT
LENGTH - length of the output F format (default = 5)
        must be an integer scalar > 2
OUTPUT
FMT - an F or I format string, e.g. 'F5.1'
FACTOR - factor of 10 by which to multiply array of numbers to achieve
        a pretty display using format FMT.
EXAMPLE
Find a nice format to print an array of numbers with a minimum of 5.2e-3
and a maximum  of 4.2e-2.
        IDL> fmt = F_FORMAT( 5.2e-3, 4.2e-2, factor )
yields fmt = '(F5.2)' and factor = .01, i.e. the array can be displayed
with a F5.2 format after multiplication by 100.
REVISION HISTORY
Written W. Landsman              December 1988
Deal with factors < 1.           August 1991
Deal with factors < 1. *and* a large range    October 1992
Now returns In format rather than Fn.0    February, 1994
Converted to IDL V5.0   W. Landsman   September 1997