udfPadLeft()

This is a simple user-defined scalar function which will be referenced by subsequent posts.  It is just a tool that comes in very handy for formatting.

Use Admin

go

IF object_id('dbo.udfPadLeft') Is Not Null

      DROP FUNCTION dbo.udfPadLeft

go

CREATE FUNCTION dbo.udfPadLeft

                              (@In varchar(100),

                               @Width int,

                               @PadChar varchar(1))

RETURNS varchar(100)

AS

/*    DATE        AUTHOR            REMARKS

      7/6/11            PPaiva            Initial creation.

     

      DESCRIPTION

            Pads @In with @PadChar so that the length of the returned

            value is @Width.  If the length of @In is greater than @Width

            then @In is returned. 

      USAGE

            SELECT dbo.udfPadLeft('7', '3', '0')

*/

BEGIN

      DECLARE @Out varchar(100),

                  @LenIn int

      SET @LenIn = Len(@In)

     

      IF @Width - @LenIn < 0

            SET @Out = @In

      ELSE

            SET @Out = REPLICATE(@PadChar, @Width - @LenIn) + @In

      RETURN @Out

END