How can I format a java string using a width variable?

poster · #1 05-14-2008, 08:58 PM

In c, you can do something like this:

int width = 10;
double value = 123456.789012;
buffer = printf("%*f", width, value);

How can i do that in java?

I tried using str = String.format("%*f", width, value);

Java does not recognize what the asteriks is for.

blessed_thang · #2 05-14-2008, 10:09 PM

The Entities in java are slightly different. I adore them being included (finally).

float bigNum = 123456.789012;

String pattern = String.format( "%10.2f is my magic number%n", bigNum);

System.out.println( pattern);
or
System.out.println(
String.format( "%10.3f", bigNum) );

the "decimal place" is the rounding.
lead off with a zero to get leading zeroes
String.format("%03.2f", bigNum));

if I want evenly spaced columns, I have to construct an Object[] array

array[0] = salaryAmt;
array[1] = hourlyRate;
array[2] = "Cowboy Bob";

System.out.println(
"%5.2f,%3.2d,%s%n, array);