asked on

stringbuffer left justify

I am creating a file with mostly static text,
but i had a problem when i want to preserve space.

I wrote the below code for creating file..

StringBuffer bufferText = new StringBuffer();
bufferText .append(String.format("%2s", "AB" ));
bufferText .append(String.format("%4s", "2012"));
bufferText .append(String.format("%1s", " "));
bufferText .append(String.format("%2s", "CD" ));
bufferText .append(String.format("%20s", "Hi Experts"));
bufferText .append(String.format("%2s", "EF" ));

The file was created with the below text

AB2012 CD HI ExpertsEF

but i want the output to be left justified...like below...

AB2012 CDHI Experts EF

I mean in the below line of code the string length is 20 but the string "HI Experts" is just 10 so the remaining 10 characters are spaces... i want those ten characters to be after "HI Experts" not before "HI Experts"

bufferText .append(String.format("%20s", "Hi Experts"));

I see that stringbuffer by default appends the string with right justification can i change it to left justification....

is there a way to achieve this... other than me specifying
bufferText .append(String.format("%20s", "HI Experts "));
i dont want to do it in the above method because sometimes the string length can be 200 and my actual string can be only 20 characters... so i dont want to count 180 spaces...

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

CEHJ

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial

shragi

ASKER

that solved my problem.... i ahve another question...how to add only spaces... using append...

i mean if i want to add some 20 spaces i am using the below line
bufferText .append(String.format("%-20s", " "));

is there any other way to do this...

CEHJ

You don't need to add spaces - that's the whole point of formatting. An empty String will suffice

shragi

ASKER

excellent thank you :)

CEHJ