# File format.rb, line 417
    def initialize (val, unchanging)
      @unchanging = unchanging
      @val = val
      unless (unchanging)
        s = val.size - 1
        
        if (val =~ /[@^][<]{#{s},#{s}}/)
          @formatter = LeftFormatter.new(val)
        elsif (val =~ /[@^][>]{#{s},#{s}}/)     
          @formatter = RightFormatter.new(val)
        elsif (val =~ /[@^][\|]{#{s},#{s}}/)
          @formatter = CenterFormatter.new(val)
        elsif (val =~ /[@^](#*)([\.]{0,1})(#*)([eEgG])(#+)/)
          @formatter = ScientificNotationFormatter.new($1, $2, $3, $4, $5)
        elsif (val =~ /[@^](#*)([\.]{0,1})(#*)/)
          @formatter = NumberFormatter.new($1, $2, $3)
        else
          raise FormatException.new(), "Malformed format entry \"#{@val}\""
        end
      end
    end