How can I easily format my data table in C++?

Question

I'm not sure, but I think I remember there being something in Java that can specify how far from the left of a window that a string or digit begins..

How to easily format a table? I have this (using setw):

Bob Doe     10.96      7.61     14.39      2.11     47.30     14.21     44.58      5.00     60.23 Helen City     10.44      7.78     16.27      1.99     48.92     13.93     53.79      5.00     70.97 Joe Green     10.90      7.33     14.49      2.05     47.91     14.15     44.45      4.70     73.98 

and ideally would like:

Bob           Doe        BLR  10.96   7.61  14.39   2.11  47.30  14.21  44.58   5.00  60.23  4:27.47 Helen         City       CUB  10.90   7.33  14.49   2.05  47.91  14.15  44.45   4.70  73.98  4:29.17 Joe           Green      USA  10.44   7.78  16.27   1.99  48.92  13.93  53.79   5.00  70.97  5:06.59 

Is the only way calculations? Or is there some magical even more simple way?

Answer 1

In C++, you have three functions to help you do what you want. There are defined in <iomanip>.
- setw() helps you defined the width of the output.
- setfill() Fill the rest with the character you want (in your case ' ').
- left (or right) allow you to define the alignment.

Here is the code to write your first line :

#include <iostream> #include <iomanip>  using namespace std;  int main() {     const char separator    = ' ';     const int nameWidth     = 6;     const int numWidth      = 8;      cout << left << setw(nameWidth) << setfill(separator) << "Bob";     cout << left << setw(nameWidth) << setfill(separator) << "Doe";     cout << left << setw(numWidth) << setfill(separator) << 10.96;     cout << left << setw(numWidth) << setfill(separator) << 7.61;     cout << left << setw(numWidth) << setfill(separator) << 14.39;     cout << left << setw(numWidth) << setfill(separator) << 2.11;     cout << left << setw(numWidth) << setfill(separator) << 47.30;     cout << left << setw(numWidth) << setfill(separator) << 14.21;     cout << left << setw(numWidth) << setfill(separator) << 44.58;     cout << left << setw(numWidth) << setfill(separator) << 5.00;     cout << left << setw(numWidth) << setfill(separator) << 60.23;     cout << endl;      cin.get(); } 

EDIT : To reduce the code, you can use a template function :

template<typename T> void printElement(T t, const int& width) {     cout << left << setw(width) << setfill(separator) << t; } 

That you can use like this :

printElement("Bob", nameWidth); printElement("Doe", nameWidth); printElement(10.96, numWidth); printElement(17.61, numWidth); printElement(14.39, numWidth); printElement(2.11, numWidth); printElement(47.30, numWidth); printElement(14.21, numWidth); printElement(44.58, numWidth); printElement(5.00, numWidth); printElement(60.23, numWidth); cout << endl;