Using Java String.format

Question

I have a string "name" which I need to add n amount of blank spaces to the end. I have been told to use String.format but for the life of me I cant figure out how to do it.

String formatName = String.format(name, %15s);
return formatName;

But this didn't work, can anyone point me in the right the direction?

Basically I need to make each string 15 characters long with blank spaces appended to the end if the original string is too short.

================

With advice I reversed the paramaters however this throws up an error.

private String format(String name, String number) 
{
    String formatName = String.format(%15s, name);
    String formatNumber = String.format(%15s, number);
    return formatName + " - " + formatNumber;
}

However this throws an error - Illegal start of expression.

Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong?

You've got your parameters backwards. Look at the API for java.util.Formatter for more details. — Hovercraft Full Of Eels
– Hovercraft Full Of Eels, Commented Oct 27, 2012 at 20:13
@aioobe nice, didn't know that one, but that does not add n spaces to the end, it pads it until the string is n characters. Chris, is this what was required or did you really require precisely n spaces? — Maarten Bodewes
– Maarten Bodewes, Commented Oct 27, 2012 at 20:21
@Chris, the format string needs to be between quotes like "%-15s" — Maarten Bodewes
– Maarten Bodewes, Commented Oct 27, 2012 at 20:23

Buhake Sindi · Accepted Answer · 2012-10-27 20:26:18Z

2

formatName = String.format(name + "%15s", "");

OR

formatName = String.format("%-15s", name);

The - appends to the end of the argument.

edited Oct 27, 2012 at 20:26

answered Oct 27, 2012 at 20:16

Buhake Sindi

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