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Have a program which I'd like output the values from an Array. Using tab (\t) or formatting e.g (%40s) doesnt account for strings of different lengths.

Current Code Below is Fine for the Headings.

    System.out.format("%s%40s%32s%32s%32s%32s\n","ID","NAME","SURNAME","POSITION","CONTACT","EMAIL");

However, Not for the values of different Lenths

I'd Like something like this below ***

Name         Surname         ID           Position
Joanne       Bassy           0000001      Manager
Mannnny      papsasjkasjnnxz 0000002      Boss

I Get this though ***

Name         Surname         ID           Position
Joanne       Bassy           0000001      Manager
Mannnny    papsasjkasjnnxz 0000002         Boss
share|improve this question
    
could be possible only by using Monospaced Fonts and to use \t, –  mKorbel Jul 23 '13 at 11:36
4  
use JTable instead of bothering with and by remove lines in columns and rows (JTable API) –  mKorbel Jul 23 '13 at 11:38
    
thanks for your response mKorbel –  ABURU 2011 Jul 23 '13 at 11:44

1 Answer 1

up vote 1 down vote

Change your format string as follows:

  1. Add a width specifier to the first format specifier to specify the width of the first column
  2. Add a - flag on all the format specifiers to left align the values

The updated format string would be "%-40s%-40s%-32s%-32s%-32s%-32s\n".

See the Format String Syntax for more details.

Note that this solution has several limitations:

  • It will only work when you use a fixed width font
  • If any string is longer than the provided width, it will push the rest of the line out and the columns won't line up.
  • The user will not be able to easily manipulate the data (column width, column order, sort order)
  • The user won't be able to easily copy the output and paste directly into a spreadsheet.

Alternatives include

  • Using a JTable, which would be more flexible but this would require more coding.
  • Using \t to separate the fields instead of padding with spaces. This option would allow copying into a spreadsheet, but still has the other limitations and may be more difficult to line up the column values if they are not all roughly the same length.
share|improve this answer
1  
Assumes a fixed width font. –  trashgod Jul 23 '13 at 14:28
    
Yes, I assumed a fixed width font as that is how the example was given. As @mKorbel notes, the best would be to use a JTable but if there is a restriction to using only text output this solution will work in conjuntion with a fixed width font. –  Rangi Keen Jul 23 '13 at 15:56
    
+1 for addressing the question directly, but it wouldn't hurt to expand on the limitations and alternatives. –  trashgod Jul 23 '13 at 16:07
    
There arent any Limitations however, prefernce would be to use a text output option. Thanks Rangi Keen / trashgod for yoyur Input –  ABURU 2011 Jul 24 '13 at 0:26

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