How to set the spaces in a string format in Python 3

Question

How can I set up the string format so that I could use a variable to ensure the length can change as needed? For example, lets say the length was 10 at first, then the input changes then length becomes 15. How would I get the format string to update?

    length =  0
    for i in self.rows:
        for j in i:
            if len(j) > length:
                length  = len(j)
    print('% length s')

Obviously the syntax above is wrong but I can't figure out how to get this to work.

Can you fix your indentation? Are you trying to print within the for loop? — OneCricketeer
– OneCricketeer, Commented Mar 21, 2016 at 18:36
Why wouldn't you just use print(s)? It will print whatever s is. — Rolf of Saxony
– Rolf of Saxony, Commented Mar 21, 2016 at 18:43
BTW, you can replace that nested loop with max(map(len, (j for i in rows for j in i))) — tobias_k
– tobias_k, Commented Mar 21, 2016 at 18:52
@tobias_k shorter and more readable way: max(len(j) for i in rows for j in i) — pabouk - Ukraine stay strong
– pabouk - Ukraine stay strong, Commented Jul 27, 2022 at 7:57

OneCricketeer · Accepted Answer · 2016-03-21 18:45:05Z

9

Using str.format

>>> length = 20
>>> string = "some string"
>>> print('{1:>{0}}'.format(length, string))
         some string

answered Mar 21, 2016 at 18:45

OneCricketeer

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Comments

tobias_k · Accepted Answer · 2016-03-21 18:37:01Z

5

You can use %*s and pass in length as another parameter:

>>> length = 20
>>> string = "some string"
>>> print("%*s" % (length, string))
         some string

Or use a format string to create the format string:

>>> print(("%%%ds" % length) % string)
         some string

answered Mar 21, 2016 at 18:37

tobias_k

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Comments

Mike Müller · Accepted Answer · 2016-03-21 18:50:32Z

1

The format method allows nice keyword arguments combined with positional arguments:

>>> s = 'my string'
>>> length = 20
>>> '{:>{length}s}'.format(s, length=length)
'           my string'

answered Mar 21, 2016 at 18:50

Mike Müller

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Comments

armatita · Accepted Answer · 2016-03-21 18:33:27Z

0

You can declare like this:

 print('%20s'%'stuff')

20 would be the number of characters in the print string. The excess in whitespace.

answered Mar 21, 2016 at 18:33

armatita

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4 Comments

uhexos Over a year ago

length changes the amount of white space, it isnt what gets printed

armatita Over a year ago

I just printed it. I'm pretty sure I'm seeing white space.

zondo Over a year ago

The OP is trying to get a format string that does not depend on knowing the length ahead of time. He wants to be able to change the length, but use the same format string. tobias_k's answer should give you the idea.

armatita Over a year ago

tobias_k answer is indeed a more complete example (although the solution is the same,... I think). Should I delete my post?

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