String formatting not working

Question

I'm trying to use some new Java string formatting tricks, pretty basic stuff. It compiles without any error messages but won't allow me to execute the code. Could someone please explain to me why this is wrong? Thanks in advance.

My code:

class TestingStringFormat {
    public static void main(String args[]) {
        System.out.printf("Total cost %-10d ; quantity %d\n", "ten spaces",5, 120);

        for(int i=0; i<20; i++){
        System.out.printf("%-2d: ", i,  "some text here/n", 1);
    }
    }
}

Josh M · Accepted Answer · 2014-01-26 00:00:57Z

2

In both of your printfs, the number of format specifiers does not match the number of arguments you are passing in.

For example, the first printf reads:

System.out.printf("Total cost %-10d ; quantity %d\n", "ten spaces",5, 120);

It's expecting an integer followed by another integer. You are passing in a String, an int, and another int.

In your second printf:

System.out.printf("%-2d: ", i,  "some text here/n", 1);

It's expecting an integer. You are passing in an int, a String, and another int.

answered Jan 26, 2014 at 0:00

Josh M

12k8 gold badges42 silver badges49 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Comments

Reimeus · Accepted Answer · 2014-01-26 00:14:06Z

1

You're missing the format specifier that corresponds to the first String argument on the printf method so a IllegalFormatConversionException will be thrown

System.out.printf("Total cost %s %-10d ; quantity %d\n", "ten spaces", 5, 120);
                              ^

Your second printf statement will not throw a runtime exception but only the first argument will be displayed. You could do

System.out.printf("%-2d: %s %d%n", i,  "some text here/n", 1);

Read: Formatter

edited Jan 26, 2014 at 0:14

answered Jan 26, 2014 at 0:01

Reimeus

160k16 gold badges225 silver badges282 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

String formatting not working

2 Answers 2

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related