Question

I was wondering what the easiest way is to convert an integer to the equivalent number of blank spaces. I need it for the spaces between nodes when printing a binary search tree. I tried this

  int position = printNode.getPosition(); 
  String formatter = "%1"+position+"s%2$s\n";
  System.out.format(formatter, "", node.element);

But I am getting almost 3 times as many spaces compared to the int value of position. I’m not really sure if I am formatting the string right either.
Any suggestions would be great!
If it makes it clearer, say position = 6; I want 6 blank spaces printed before my node element.

Answer 1

I think you meant something like:

    int n = 6;
    String s = String.format("%1$"+n+"s", "");

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System.out.format("[%13s]%n", "");  // prints "[             ]" (13 spaces)
System.out.format("[%1$3s]%n", ""); // prints "[   ]" (3 spaces)