How can I left-align strings using String.format()?

Question

I'm using String.format() in Java trying to emulate the printf() control channel available in C. I understand how to specify that a string should be placed in a field which takes 20 characters, 5, 2 ... with 3 decimals, 2, etc. However, the strings are printed right-aligned in their field.

How do I left-align the strings?

Here's an example of a possible output which I would like to modify to left-align EXECUTING and CREATED in their fields.

Process PID: 25    Status: -----------       EXECUTING
Process PID: 36    Status: READY-SUSPENDED
Process PID:  4    Status: ----------------        CREATED

*note: consider '-' as an empty space

Chris Dodd · Accepted Answer · 2011-02-04 00:23:05Z

118

Same way as with printf -- use a - modifier in the format

answered Feb 4, 2011 at 0:23

Chris Dodd

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2 Comments

jff Over a year ago

And if you're using the position specifier, String.format("%1$-10s", "test")

Peter Mortensen Over a year ago

Can you include an example in your answer?

β.εηοιτ.βε · Accepted Answer · 2020-07-29 13:25:08Z

10

System.out.format("%-10d%-32s%-16s%-16s%-32s", obj.getId(), obj.getBname(), obj.getAname(),obj.getLanguage(),obj.getPublication());

Just add hyphen - in front of the number.

edited Jul 29, 2020 at 13:25

β.εηοιτ.βε

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answered Jul 29, 2020 at 12:52

PIYUSH NANKAR

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Comments

OscarRyz · Accepted Answer · 2011-02-04 01:04:24Z

0

Like this?

class F { 
  public static void main( String ... args ) { 
    String [] status =  { "EXECUTING", "READY-SUSPENDED", "CREATED" };
    int [] pids =  {123, 34, 1231 };
    int i = 0;
    for( String s : status ) { 
       System.out.printf("Process PID: %5d Status : %s%n", pids[i++], s);
    }  
  }
}

Output:

$java F
Process PID:   123 Status : EXECUTING
Process PID:    34 Status : READY-SUSPENDED
Process PID:  1231 Status : CREATED

answered Feb 4, 2011 at 1:04

OscarRyz

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2 Comments

AHungerArtist Over a year ago

This isn't left justified, though. That requires the use of the '-'.

Sagar Devkota Over a year ago

System.out.printf("Process PID: %5d Status : %s\n", pids[i++], s);

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