Make the line in the same positions - "\t"

Question

I am trying that all the point are in the same position. But only I can make look it like this. Could you give me ideas to make it look more tidy.

`\t` alone is too dumb for a correct line-up in all situations. You need to correctly compute the offset using the length of the strings and then fill it up with spaces. See [Java printf formatting to print items in a table or columns](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/33466526/java-printf-formatting-to-print-items-in-a-table-or-columns) (you can use the same format syntax with `String#format`, a monospace font makes things easier). — Zabuzard, Mar 10 '19 at 17:38

score 3 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 10 '19 at 17:36

You have several options here:

Create a JTextArea (which it looks like you're doing)
- Give the text area a monospaced font
- Then display formatted Strings using String.format("%-20s :%20s%n", text1, text2) (the numbers may vary) to allow for proper alignment of the text
Use a JTable to hold and display tabular data
Create a grid with each line holding a JLabel and a JTextField,
- Format the placement of the components using a GridBagLayout

Yassin Hajaj · Answer 2 · 2019-03-10T18:41:04.277

You could also write your own method to format your Strings

public static void main(String[] args) {
    String line1 = "Importe a pagar ";
    String line2 = "Descuento ";
    String line3 = "Importe ";
    String line4 = "Obsequio ";

    String[] correctedStrings = setCorrectAmountOfTabs(line1, line2, line3, line4);

    Arrays.stream(correctedStrings).map(line -> line + " : 50").forEach(System.out::println);
}

private static String[] setCorrectAmountOfTabs(String... lines) {
    if (lines == null || lines.length == 0) return;
    int lengthOfTab = 4;
    int targetAmount = Arrays.stream(lines)
                             .map(line -> line.length() / lengthOfTab)
                             .max(Integer::compare)
                             .get();

    return Arrays.stream(lines)
            .map(line -> {
                int currentAmount = line.length() / lengthOfTab;
                String tabs = IntStream.rangeClosed(0, targetAmount - currentAmount)
                                       .mapToObj(i -> "\t")
                                       .collect(Collectors.joining());
                return line + tabs;
            })
            .toArray(String[]::new);
}

The execution of this method gives the following result

Importe a pagar      : 50
Descuento            : 50
Importe              : 50
Obsequio             : 50

You could then just manipulate the output String array to use it inside of your component. This gives the insurance of having always the same kind of behaviour, no matter the length of your longest String

If I add an extra line to it, it gives the following result

Importe a pagar                  : 50
Descuento                        : 50
Importe                          : 50
Obsequio                         : 50
Adding a very long line to it    : 50

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 10 '19 at 16:51

1

Those three texts below need another "\t". It happens because the text on the left side in the first row is so long, it overlaps the second column, the next piece (after tab) has to be written in the next "cell".

answered Mar 10 '19 at 16:51

Andronicus

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Another idea: add spaces to the shorter Strings so that the \t are in the same column – NormR Mar 10 '19 at 17:03
Yes, that depends on the position the other column must be. – Andronicus Mar 10 '19 at 17:04

Make the line in the same positions - "\t"

3 Answers3