Set Width between output for variable length names

try to use the setw() formatter function before every string you want to fix, like:

cout << setw(40) <<  yourstr << endl;

i have been looking at setw ...

i have used the following code (was all on one line but it didnt work so had to seperate it line by line for it to show up.

however with the code below im still getting varied widths and the names are all alligned to the RIGHT.


 for (i=0; i<maxstudents; i++)

     {

        cout << " ";
        cout << setw (20);  // set 20 characters for name
        cout << szstudentnames[i];
        cout << "     ";  
        cout << "Attendences: " << nattendence[i];
        cout << "     ";  
        cout << "Absences: " << nabsence[i] << endl;

     }       


what im after is output like this:
  XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX     attendences:  1      absences:  4
  XXXXX XXXXXXXX              attendences:  2      absences:  3
  XXX XXXXXXX                     attendences:  3      absences:  2


  XXX  (firstname)  XXXXXX (surname)   <- both part of a statically defined array of characters:


the output im currently getting is:
          XXXXX XXXX        attendences:  1  absences:  4
     XXXXXXX XXXX     attendences:  1   absences:  4

etc etc...



int init(char szstudentnames[maxstudents][30])

{
   system("clear");

   // initiate static 2D array of characters of student names

   strcpy(szstudentnames[0], "name 0");

   strcpy(szstudentnames[1], "name 1");

   strcpy(szstudentnames[2], "name 2");

   strcpy(szstudentnames[3], "name 3");
   strcpy(szstudentnames[4], "name 4");

   strcpy(szstudentnames[5], "name 5");

   strcpy(szstudentnames[6], "name 6");

   strcpy(szstudentnames[7], "name 7");

   strcpy(szstudentnames[8], "name 8");

return 0;
}

cool!
brilliant thank you. works a charm

how easy would it be to store the attendance of each student into a text file, then import it before the register is taken again?

eg:

register is taken for 2 lessons:   everyone is present for both (22 student all with Y)

close program.

reload program. find text file and load attendance figures from previous registers into the buffer.
(22 students for 2 classes all present)
then take the new register.

then append it to the text file and save?

Sorry, jaime_olivares. It was not my intention to get these points.

@ seraph_matrix_631 : jaime_olivares gave you the correct answer to use setw. I merely expanded on it to fix the alignment and other issues. If you want, you can re-open the question, and award all or some of the points to jaime_olivares.



>> how easy would it be to store the attendance of each student into a text file, then import it before the register is taken again?

Not that difficult. Take a look at this tutorial on file I/O in C++ :

        http://www.cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/files.html

i found that link earlier but thanks.
been playing with m coding for the program most of this afternoon trying to find a way now to check for numeric input before continuing a body of code.

i'll get there soon! :P
i gave u the points infinity08 because u most correctly answered my question. if u look at the title i did mention "set width" and i knew of its function, not wasnt sure how to apply the function.


thanks to all for your help :-)