octave: Output Conversion for Matrices

 
 14.2.5 Output Conversion for Matrices
 -------------------------------------
 
 When given a matrix value, Octave’s formatted output functions cycle
 through the format template until all the values in the matrix have been
 printed.  For example:
 
      printf ("%4.2f %10.2e %8.4g\n", hilb (3));
 
           ⊣ 1.00   5.00e-01   0.3333
           ⊣ 0.50   3.33e-01     0.25
           ⊣ 0.33   2.50e-01      0.2
 
    If more than one value is to be printed in a single call, the output
 functions do not return to the beginning of the format template when
 moving on from one value to the next.  This can lead to confusing output
 if the number of elements in the matrices are not exact multiples of the
 number of conversions in the format template.  For example:
 
      printf ("%4.2f %10.2e %8.4g\n", [1, 2], [3, 4]);
 
           ⊣ 1.00   2.00e+00        3
           ⊣ 4.00
 
    If this is not what you want, use a series of calls instead of just
 one.