Align cout format as table's columns

Question

I'm pretty sure this is a simple question in regards to formatting but here's what I want to accomplish:

I want to output data onto the screen using cout. I want to output this in the form of a table format. What I mean by this is the columns and rows should be properly aligned. Example:

Test                 1 Test2                2 Iamlongverylongblah  2 Etc                  1 

I am only concerned with the individual line so my line to output now (not working) is

cout << var1 << "\t\t" << var2 << endl;

Which gives me something like:

Test                 1 Test2                  2 Iamlongverylongblah         2 Etc                  1 

Answer 1

setw.

#include <iostream> #include <iomanip> using namespace std;  int main () {   cout << setw(21) << left << "Test"    << 1 << endl;   cout << setw(21) << left << "Test2"   << 2 << endl;   cout << setw(21) << left << "Iamlongverylongblah"     << 2 << endl;   cout << setw(21) << left << "Etc"     << 1 << endl;   return 0; } 

Answer 2

I advise using Boost Format. Use something like this:

cout << format("%|1$30| %2%") % var1 % var2;