Java Text in Text Editor isn't the same as the output

Question

If I want something like this to appear:

+---------------------------------------+   
|                                       |

I have to put it it in notepad ++ as

System.out.println("+------------------------------------------------+");  
System.out.println("|                               |");

Is there a way to make the output appear as it does in the text editor? I read that it could be because of tabs/spaces being mixed, but I made sure to only use space-bar.

The spaces and hyphens in your sample code don't match. Is it a *typo*, or is that the actual code you're running? — afsantos, Nov 24 '13 at 23:40
You need to tell the editor your're using. (please notify @ me as I don't check for answers) — user2284570, Nov 24 '13 at 23:45

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:05

2

It is the same text. It isn't the same font.

Use a monospaced font in the text area (and Notepad++):

A monospaced font, also called a fixed-pitch, fixed-width or non-proportional font, is a font whose letters and characters each occupy the same amount of horizontal space. This contrasts with variable-width fonts, where the letters differ in size from one another.

See SWT - OS agnostic way to get monospaced font

edited May 23 '17 at 12:05

Community

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answered Nov 24 '13 at 23:31

user2864740

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Courier seems to be monospaced http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samples_of_monospaced_typefaces and that is the font I am using. – user3029479 Nov 24 '13 at 23:35
@user3029479 It is. However, I believe the above is still accurate. Notepad++ won't write tabs - or other kinds of spaces - in strings on its own. Also, writing to `out` is not the same as writing to a JTextArea(?) which is .. an odd way to show the issue. – user2864740 Nov 24 '13 at 23:37
If Courier is a monospaced font, than why can't I just use that? I am just starting to learn programming so System.out.println is just what I was told to do. – user3029479 Nov 24 '13 at 23:48
Also I don't know where to add (this is the answer from your link). Just in the regular program? Font mono = new Font(parent.getDisplay(), "Monospaced", 10, SWT.NONE); – user3029479 Nov 24 '13 at 23:55
1

I messed around with the Fonts and themes and it fixed itself. – user3029479 Nov 25 '13 at 00:10

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 24 '13 at 23:36

if it really bothers you:

public String myFormat(int len, char ch, char margin) {
    StringBuilder stringBuilder = new StringBuilder();
    stringBuilder.append(margin);
    for (int i = 0; i < len; i++) {
        stringBuilder.append(ch);
    }
    stringBuilder.append(margin);
    return stringBuilder.toString();
}

System.out.println(myFormat(20, '-', '+'));
System.out.println(myFormat(20, ' ', '|'));

just an idea...

Java Text in Text Editor isn't the same as the output

2 Answers2