How to align string column using string format padding in C#

Question

I used string format padding to display columns in specific format (i.e distance between columns).

String.Format("{0,5}{1,0}{2,-20}{3,0}",
                            ID,
                            ZIP,
                            State,
                            Flag);

It works well for standard fixed row length.

012345IL     1
112345KS     0
212345CO     1
312345CA     1
412345IL     1
512345KS     0
612345CO     1
712345CA     1
812345IL     1
912345KS     0
1012345CO     1
1112345CA     1

But the problem comes when the ID becomes double digit and the last line shifts a bit. The desired format I am expecting is

012345IL     1
112345KS     0
212345CO     1
312345CA     1
412345IL     1
512345KS     0
612345CO     1
712345CA     1
812345IL     1
912345KS     0
1012345CO    1
1112345CA    1

I tried padright and padleft, but not solved the problem and I have the same problem with the other string which has address, where the last column changes when the address length increase. Is there any other way or builtin C# function to achieve?

A better idea could be the string count and use spaces instead of padding. So if the ID size is increased your location of next column will still be same. — Mohit S
– Mohit S, Commented Mar 6, 2017 at 3:38
@MohitShrivastava Can you please answer with the prototype of your concept ? — Prime
– Prime, Commented Mar 6, 2017 at 3:46
how do you show your result? Because I am seeing padded strings (spaces) in front of each result, which makes them what you wanted already — kurakura88
– kurakura88, Commented Mar 6, 2017 at 4:21

Adam Dove · Accepted Answer · 2017-03-06 04:11:15Z

4

Your String.Format already formats your string properly. The {0,5} allows 5 characters for the first parameter. This will give you 4 spaces at the beginning of your line for single digit ids, and 3 for double digit ids. Perhaps it is an issue with how you are displaying your string.

However, what you show in your requested format is a little different.
Try this:

string firstGroup = $"{ID}{ZIP}{State}";
String.Format($"{firstGroup,-13}{Flag}");

edited Mar 6, 2017 at 4:11

answered Mar 6, 2017 at 3:54

Adam Dove

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2 Comments

berdem Over a year ago

Is this syntax belongs to c# ?

wallyk Over a year ago

@berdem: Yes, it is called an "interpolated string". It has been supported since c# 6, July 2015.

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