turn 0 to 0.000

Well this is a formatting issue, how can I force any number to have a specified format? Example:

I have 1.23, I need 1.230

I have 0, I need 0.000

I have 0.1011, I need 0.101

I have 5.1019, I need 5.102

I have 20.002, I need 20.002 (stays the same)

I seem to have tried a few methods I found on-line, however still have not found one that works exactly this way. I would never exceed 99.999 or -99.999. Thanks, Chris

[Matt Fig]

Are you talking about the value of the number or the display of the number?

fprintf('%.17f\n',.1)  % Shows all digits

Answer 1

[Image Analyst]

Use sprintf():

sprintf('%.3f', 0) % to command window.
outputString = sprintf('%.3f', 5.1019) % Sticks it in a string.

[Chris E.]

Thanks this works great!

Answer 2

[Azzi Abdelmalek]

use fprintf

a=0;
fprintf('%5.3f\n',a)

Answer 3

[Matt Fig]

You cannot really change the underlying value too much. But as far as a display:

A = [1.23,0,0.1011,5.1019,20.002];
fprintf('\t%.3f\n',A)