print spaces with String.format()

java string format
dfa picture dfa · Jul 2, 2009 · Viewed 108.8k times · Source

how I can rewrite this:

for (int i = 0; i < numberOfSpaces; i++) {
    System.out.print(" ");
}

using String.format()?

PS

I'm pretty sure that this is possible but the javadoc is a bit confusing.

Answer

pjp picture pjp · Jul 2, 2009

You need to specify the minimum width of the field.

String.format("%" + numberOfSpaces + "s", "");

Why do you want to generate a String of spaces of a certain length.

If you want a column of this length with values then you can do:

String.format("%" + numberOfSpaces + "s", "Hello");

which gives you numberOfSpaces-5 spaces followed by Hello. If you want Hello to appear on the left then add a minus sign in before numberOfSpaces.

Related questions

How to use java.String.format in Scala?

I am trying to use a .format method of a string. But if I place %1, %2, etc. in the string, java.util.UnknownFormatConversionException is thrown pointing to a confusing Java source code piece: private void checkText(String s) { int idx; // If …

Read More
How to nicely format floating numbers to String without unnecessary decimal 0?

An 64-bit double can represent integer +/- 253 exactly Given this fact I choose to use a double type as a single type for all my types, since my largest integer is unsigned 32-bit. But now I have to print these …

Read More
How to format a Java string with leading zero?

Here is the String, for example: "Apple" and I would like to add zero to fill in 8 chars: "000Apple" How can I do so?

Read More