How to create a counting number but starting with Zeros

[JoseOscco]

Hello

I want to create a counting number with 6 decimals. I want to get the number 934 896, but I want to start with all decimals in zero like this: 000 000.

I wrote this expression:

t = Math.floor(effect("Control del deslizador")("Deslizador"))
t += "";
t.replace(/(\d)(?=(\d\d\d)+(?!\d))/g, "$1 ");

But, I start with a single zero.

Thanks ofr your help!!

[Dan Ebberts]

Try this:

t = Math.floor(effect("Control del deslizador")("Deslizador"));
n = 6 - t.toString().length;
"00000".substr(0,n) + t

Dan

[JoseOscco]

Hi Dan!

Your answer really helped me, although I need a space in the middle of the number like this: 000 000

With your expression I got this: 000000

I tried to mix your expression with mine, but it didn't work.

Could you help me with this issue?

Thanks a lot!

[Tomas Sinkunas]

Here's how you do it: split the string into an array of N size items (chunks) and join the result with a separator. Simply change string, chunkSize and separator variables to your needs.

Given a string 123456789 with a chunkSize of value 3 and a separator as - the result would be 123-456-789

function splitStringIntoChunks(string, chunkSize) {
	var chunks, pattern;

	// Convert 'string' into a string primitive
	string = (string instanceof String) ? string : string.toString();

	// Floor the size
	chunkSize = Math.floor(chunkSize);

	// Build RegExp pattern
	pattern = new RegExp('.{0,' + chunkSize + '}', 'g');

	// Get array of matches
	chunks = string.match(pattern);

	return chunks;
}

var string = 123456789;
var chunkSize = 3;
var separator = ' ';

var chunks = splitStringIntoChunks(string, chunkSize);
var result = chunks.join(separator);

result;

[Tomas Sinkunas · Accepted solution]

Here is a robust way to do what you are looking for. The method of adding extra characters on left or right of the string is called padding. So here's a function that converts your number into a string and pads it to a given length of 6 characters. In case you need more '0' characters at the start, simply change number 6 to some other value.

Cheers.

function padStart(string, targetLength, character) {
	// Convert 'string' into a string primitive
	string = (string instanceof String) ? string : string.toString();
	
	// floor if number, or convert non-number to 0;
	targetLength = targetLength >> 0;

	// Assign default padding character
	character = character || ' ';

	while (string.length < targetLength) {
		string = character + string;
	}

	return string;
};

var slider = thisComp.layer('Null 1').effect('Slider Control')('Slider');
var paddedString = padStart(slider.value, 6, '0');

paddedString;

[Sara Lemchen]

Hi! Thank's for this! 

I have a problem with decimals though, I don't want them. How do I get rid of them? 

[animatorinprogress]

Hi Tomas - was hoping you might be able to help me with a similar issue? I am trying to add a 0 just for the counting numbers 1-9 then continue normally. For example 00,01,02,03,04...10,11,12, etc. Any thoughts? Please see my post here: https://community.adobe.com/t5/after-effects-discussions/how-to-create-counting-numbers-keeping-zero...

[Muhammad_Zahid0126]

Using counting tools to create a counting number starting with zeros, you can adapt your code to format the output with leading zeros and proper spacing. Here's the updated version:

t = Math.floor(effect("Control del deslizador")("Deslizador")); t = t.toString().padStart(6, "0"); // Use counting tools to ensure leading zeros t = t.replace(/(\d)(?=(\d{3})+(?!\d))/g, "$1 "); // Format with spaces every 3 digits

This ensures your counting tool generates numbers like 000 000, 000 001, up to 934 896, with six digits and spaces. The padStart function is essential for maintaining the zero-padding.