How to use `format` to repeat a character

[Ali Çehreli via Digitalmars-d-learn]

On 07/11/2016 02:02 AM, Bahman Movaqar wrote:
 > I'm sure I'm missing something very simple but how can I create a string
 > like "----" using `format`?

You can't.

 > I check the docs on `format` and tried many variations including
 > `format("%.*c\n", 4, '-')` but got nowhere.

What makes you expect that format should have that feature? :) Perhaps 
you're familiar with another language's standard library that does that?

 > I'd appreciate any hint/help on this.

There are several ways of repeating characters and range elements in 
general:

void main() {
     // 'replicate' copies an array (which strings are) eagerly
     import std.array : replicate;
     assert("-".replicate(3) == "---");

     // 'repeat' repeats lazily
     import std.range : repeat;
     import std.algorithm : equal;
     assert('-'.repeat(3).equal("---"));

     // Another one that combines multiple range algorithms
     import std.range : iota;
     import std.algorithm : map;
     assert(7.iota.map!(i => i % 2 ? '=' : '-').equal("-=-=-=-"));

     // etc.
}

Ali