def decimal_string(value, precision=6, padding=False):
    """ Convert float to string with limited precision

    Parameters
    ----------
    value : float
        A floating point value.

    precision :
        Maximum number of decimal places to print

    Returns
    -------
    value : string
        The specified value as a  string.

    """
    floatstr = '%0.10g' % value
    integer = None
    decimal = None
    if '.' in floatstr:
        integer, decimal = floatstr.split('.')
    elif ',' in floatstr:
        integer, decimal = floatstr.split(',')
    else:
        integer, decimal = floatstr, "0"

    if len(decimal) > precision:
        decimal = decimal[:precision]
    elif padding:
        decimal = decimal + (precision - len(decimal)) * '0'

    if integer or decimal:
        return ''.join([integer, '.', decimal])
    else:
        return int(floatstr)