Formating output

**eth0** · 01-12-2004

I've been using the setw() function to tidy up my output, but it appears that different lengths within the first value output effect the position of the later ones.

How do you set the output to it alligns whatever the length.

Code:

void print_bill ( BillLine bill_line[50], int num_bill_items )
{
    cls();
    cout << "THE CORNER SHOP\n\n";
    cout << "Product " << setw(20) << "Kilos" << setw(20) << "Cost(£)" << endl;
    
    for (int i=0; i<num_bill_items; ++i)
    {
        cout << bill_line[i].stock.desc << setw(20) << bill_line[i].weight 
             << setw(20) << bill_line[i].cost << endl;
    }
    cls();
}

Thanks

**Stoned_Coder** · 01-12-2004

use setw() to set field widths. Make sure widths bigger than items to go into fields as no concatenation will take place. Look up the modifiers left and right to align a bit better.

**eth0** · 01-14-2004

Still can't get this output correct.

If, for the first time through the loop, I output a 5 char string for the first variable, then the next output is fine.

If I output a 15 char string for the first variable, the output for the second is pushed out of line.

Does anyone have any other guidance please?

**eth0** · 01-14-2004

Quick point,

bill_line[i].stock.desc is a char

bill_line[i].weight and bill_line[i].cost are both int's

From what I am reading, this effects the padding, but I am still having trouble getting things to line up

**alphaoide** · 01-14-2004

Wanna try this.

Code:

cout << setw(20)  << bill_line[i].stock.desc << setw(20) << bill_line[i].weight 
             << setw(20) << bill_line[i].cost << endl;

Just figured this out. This flag will left align the output (instead of right align it). Just use it once at the first cout.

Code:

cout << setw(20) << setiosflags(ios::left) << "Product " 
        << setw(20) << "Kilos" 
        << setw(20) << "Cost(£)" << endl;

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