setWidth string

[jpenguin]

I'm doing a simple program to learn java. I have the input and math parts right. It just isn't displaying right. It outputs a list of about 11 things-- with the format "string $ xx.xx"
In each line the '$'s should be aligned and the decimal point should be aligned.

This is what it currently shows-

package excercise6;
    import java.swing.*;
/**
 *
 * @author dye1107
 */
public class Main {
     /* @param args the command line arguments
     */
    public static void main(String[] args) {
    String str, name;
    Double gross, net;
    Double fed, state, ss, medicare, pension;
    final Double health=75.00;
 
    name = JOptionPane.showInputDialog("What is your name:  ");
    str = JOptionPane.showInputDialog("What is your gross pay:  ");
    gross = Double.parseDouble(str);
 
    fed = gross*0.15;
    state = gross*0.035;
    ss = gross*0.0575;
    medicare = gross*0.0275;
    pension = gross*0.05;
    net = gross-fed-state-ss-medicare-pension-health;
 
 
    JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, name + "\n" + String.format("%-40s", "Gross Amount:")+ "$" + String.format("%10.2f", gross) + "\n" + String.format("%-40s", "Federal Tax:") + "$" + String.format("%10.2f", fed) + "\n" + String.format("%-40s", "State Tax:") + "$"+ String.format("%10.2f", state) + "\n" + String.format("%-40s", "Social Security Tax:") + "$"+ String.format("%10.2f", ss) + "\n" + String.format("%-40s", "Medicare/Medicade Tax:") + "$"+ String.format("%10.2f", medicare) + "\n" + String.format("%-40s", "Pension Plan:") + "$"+ String.format("%10.2f", pension) + "\n" + String.format("%-40s", "Health Insurance:") + "$"+ String.format("%10.2f", health));
    }
 
}

[JosAH]

As you already saw tabs and spaces don't work. A JOptionPane accepts html text as well; you can put your text and figures in a table and display that instead of just a String.

kind regards,

Jos

[jpenguin]

yep, I did try '\t', but as I found, it didn't work.

I was almost certain that the

String.format("%-40s",string)

would have made each string take a length of 40. Could you tell me why it doesn't?

[jpenguin]

PS-- I'm pretty sure teacher doesn't expect us to do any HTML

Java Programming, 3rd Edition, ISBN 1-4239-0135-5
By DS Malik, Published by Thomson Course Technology
Chap 3

[JosAH]

@jpenguin
The default font of a JOptionPane is a proportional font (not all characters have the same width). You could try to change its font to, say, Courier New.

kind regards,

Jos

[jpenguin]

thanks, that was driving me crazy.

I set my JOptionPanes to use a MonoSpace font, and everthing lines up! :-)