Java output to file in table format?

Question

I have a bunch of info that I want to output to a file and it needs to be setup like a table. For example, I need columns with titles and information below each column.

I have four items being printed at a time that each need their own row. A %n before the next.

Should I use system.out.format? Should I be appending data to a file with the PrintStream class?

I would like to stick with Java's basic utilities and classes.

I want my output to look like this...

*Title1*  *Title2*  *Title3*  *Title4*  *Title5*
 info1     info1     info1     info1     info1
 info2     info2     info2     info2     info2
....3

Thanks for any help!

look up formatting Strings using String.format(...). The API for [String](download.oracle.com/javase/6/docs/api/java/lang/… and for Formatter will give you the details on how to use this. — Hovercraft Full Of Eels
– Hovercraft Full Of Eels, Commented Sep 18, 2011 at 23:10

Alex K · Accepted Answer · 2011-09-19 06:45:35Z

7

You can use code like this:

Formatter fmt = new Formatter(); 

System.out.println(fmt.format("%s %s %s %s %s", "Title*", "Title*", "Title*", "Title*", "Title*"));

See Formatter java doc

Sample code which prints table which has 20 characters column width:

    Formatter formatter = new Formatter();
    System.out.println(formatter.format("%20s %20s %20s %20s %20s", "Title*", "Title*", "Title*", "Title*", "Title*"));

    for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
        formatter = new Formatter();
        String rowData = "info" + i;
        System.out.println(formatter.format("%20s %20s %20s %20s %20s", rowData, rowData, rowData, rowData, rowData));
    }

For writing data to file you can use java.io package

edited Sep 19, 2011 at 6:45

answered Sep 19, 2011 at 3:30

Alex K

22.9k19 gold badges116 silver badges246 bronze badges

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

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Java output to file in table format?

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related