DecimalSeparator

Warning: This variable is deprecated. Please see hints for information on replacement.

DecimalSeparator is a global char variable whose contents is determined by the used locale. It is used for representation of floating point numbers on screen and within functions like StrToFloat() and FloatToStr().

As long as every instance of a program uses the same decimal separator everything will behave as expected. However, if one instance of a program has its locale set to Dutch (nl_NL), writes a file containing some floating point numbers which is read by another instance of the same program with a locale set to US-English (en_US) you run into trouble because a formatted number like 123,456 will generate a conversion exception...

A workaround can be to use a function like:

function DecFloat2Str( const d: double ): string;
var
   myseparator: char;
begin
  myseparator := DecimalSeparator;
  DecimalSeparator := '.';
  Result := FloatToStr( d );
  DecimalSeparator := myseparator;
end;

DecimalSeparator is defined in sysinth.inc as:

 DecimalSeparator : Char absolute DefaultFormatSettings.DecimalSeparator deprecated;

Important hint

DecimalSeparator is deprecated. In all new projects, it should be replaced by the DefaultFormatSettings variable.

See also

• ThousandSeparator
• ListSeparator
• Documentation on DecimalSeparator

From the Free Pascal wiki, page "DecimalSeparator", as it stood on 2023-04-06 after a change by Jwdietrich, out of the wiki's dump of 2024-05-26. Copyright stays with the author who wrote it, according to the old wiki's Licensing page. If you have concerns about this material, message the admin.