Thread: string tabbing problem

Hi,

I'm having a problem with the tabbing space in string. Here's the code (within a class that extends DefaultListCellRenderer):

super.setText(date + "\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t" +
                    Double.toString(data.getDailyHigh()) + "\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t" +
                    Double.toString(data.getDailyLow()) + "\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t" +
                    Double.toString(data.getPreviousClose()) + "\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t" +
                    Double.toString(data.getTrueRange()) + "\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t" +
                    Double.toString(data.getN()));

heres the output:



As you can see, the tab spacing is only one space which makes \t completely pointless and useless.

Any suggestions?

I'd be curious to see an SSCCE that demonstrates this. What happens if you only place one tab between the text? What do you want to happen instead of what's happening now?

Like I said, it would be nice to see an SSCCE of what you're actually doing. Otherwise we're just guessing.

Interesting find, and thanks for creating the SSCCE. Apparently other people have dealt with this issue. I googled "java tabs in jlist" and found the following solution:
Tab list renderer : ListSwing JFCJava

But in my humble opinion, that might be overkill for your solution. See if this makes sense:

import java.awt.Component;
import javax.swing.*;
 
public class SSCCE extends JFrame {
 
	public static void main(String [] args) {
		new SSCCE();
	}
 
	public SSCCE() {
		super("SSCCE");
		setSize(200,200);
		setDefaultCloseOperation(HIDE_ON_CLOSE);
		setUpComponents();
		setVisible(true);
	}
 
	public void setUpComponents() {
		String [] listContent = new String [2];
		listContent[0] = "tab\ttab";
		listContent[1] = "tab\t\ttab"; 
		JList list = new JList(listContent);
 
		list.setCellRenderer(new CustomListRenderer());
 
		getContentPane().add("Center", list);
	}
 
 
	public class CustomListRenderer extends DefaultListCellRenderer{
 
		public Component getListCellRendererComponent(JList list, Object value, int index, boolean isSelected, boolean cellHasFocus) {
			JLabel cell = (JLabel) super.getListCellRendererComponent(list, value, index, isSelected, cellHasFocus);
 
			String text = cell.getText();
			text = text.replaceAll("\\t", "   ");
			cell.setText(text);
 
			return cell;
		}
	}
}

Yeah, I was going to point out that simply using tabs probably won't accomplish your goal of alignment. If I were you, I might even use a renderer that puts each cell in its own JLabel, then add them to a JPanel to keep them aligned.

Originally Posted by rhalliwell1

i'd rather not use a JTable but if i must then i will.

Can I ask why you don't want to use a JTable?