[Java: Arrays] Using printf

[+Mystic MVC]

I am trying to using the prinf method while printing values of an array. Below is an example of what I'm trying to obtain in formatting output:

Here is a snippet of code I'm trying to use the printf method with:

     		for (int row=0; row < payScaleTable.length; row++) {											 
						 System.out.print("Person #" + printPerson);					
						 printPerson = printPerson + 1;

         		for (int col=0; col < payScaleTable[row].length; col++)

						System.out.print("\t" + payScaleTable[row][col] + "\t");	
						System.out.println();
                         }

Anytime I start adding the prinf method to that statement inside the for loop, I start getting "Array out of bounds" errors.

[Andre S. Veteran]

The code you posted is correct. Out-of-bounds error would have nothing to do with the use of printf. Could you show how you use printf, i.e. the code that causes the out-of-bounds error?

A possible source of bugs here is the variable printPerson, which duplicates row as a loop counter. Consider eliminating printPerson and using row instead.

[Argote]

As Dr_Asik mentioned, the code seems to be correct and should not be throwing any ArrayIndexOutOfBounds exceptions.

[kjordan2001]

The exception being thrown should point you to which line is having problems.

[+Mystic MVC]

Ok, I'm off to a slightly better start now but I'm still having trouble keeping everything aligned in the long run.

For example if you look at the very top of the first picture I posted (what the output should actually be), I can't seem to keep things aligned in the long run. For example here is what I have so far when trying to get that first block.

			
 System.out.println("Summer Internship Salary Information: "); 
			  System.out.print("\t\t");
			  while (numberOfYears >= printYears) {		

			  		System.out.printf("Year #%d \t", printYears);
					printYears = printYears + 1;
				}

			  System.out.println("");

			   for (int row=0; row < payScaleTable.length; row++){
        			for (int col=0; col < payScaleTable[row].length; col++)

           			 payScaleTable[row][col] = 1000 + (int)(Math.random() * ((20000 - 1000) + 1));			}	 																											 

     			for (int row=0; row < payScaleTable.length; row++) {											 
						 System.out.print("Person #" + printPerson + "\t");					
						 printPerson = printPerson + 1;

         		for (int col=0; col < payScaleTable[row].length; col++)

						System.out.printf("$%,6d\t\t ", payScaleTable[row][col]);	
						System.out.println();
      		}

If that code is run, over time the year and the numbers start to get slowly separated. Like this:

[kjordan2001]

I notice you're using 2 tabs between amounts, but only one tab between years. You've also got a trailing space after the 2 tabs in the amounts.

[+Mystic MVC]

It is amazing how easily I have been missing tiny little things like that which end up making a huge difference. Can I get rid of the extra space between the $ and the numbers if it is a number like $ 1,799? I know I have a 6 built into the printf method, but I just thought I would ask because it would look cleaner if for example I had $1,799 instead of $ 1,799.

[Andre S. Veteran]

The '$' is not part of the number so it's not right-aligned like the number is. Off the top of my head, I'd say you could pre-convert the number to a string, insert the '$' at the beginning and then output the whole thing right-aligned, as a string.

See http://download.oracle.com/javase/1.5.0/docs/api/java/util/Formatter.html for all the details, maybe there's an even better solution there.