Left alignment in java

lad12 · 19-03-2004 01:51PM #1

could some tell me how to align a print statement like so...(the out put will be a name and number)..

name number
***** ********
***** ********
***** ********

Hobbes · 19-03-2004 02:02PM

probably an easier way to do it but something like

take the left 5 characters of "name" +"xxxxx" (x = space)

MrPinK · 19-03-2004 02:11PM

Getting the substring of name plus a string of spaces is probably the most efficent, but I like

while(name.length() < COLUMN_SIZE)
   name += " ";

seamus · 19-03-2004 03:26PM

The '\t' escape character works in Java to add in tab spaces.....

Karoma · 19-03-2004 03:36PM

\t is probably safest/cleanest. Otherwise, use one of the many libraries that emulate C's printf statement.. (Which appears to be part of 1.5 now!?)

MrPinK · 20-03-2004 01:46AM

Tabs only work properly if the range of lengths fit within the same tab, i.e. all lengths between 0 - 7, 8 - 15, etc.

seamus · 20-03-2004 02:01AM

Originally posted by MrPinK
Tabs only work properly if the range of lengths fit within the same tab, i.e. all lengths between 0 - 7, 8 - 15, etc.

I'm sure a clever individual could come up with a small method to find the longest name, and then calculate the no. of tab spaces needed to align each number correctly

MrPinK · 20-03-2004 02:24AM

True, but a person as clever as that would no doubt hate to have to iterate through a collection twice when once is enough

GreeBo · 20-03-2004 02:29AM

but presumably the items are in an array/vector/hashmap so take note of the longest when you stick em in?

Gavin · 21-03-2004 05:52PM

java.text.Format may be of use.

Left alignment in java

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