I'm using StringBuffer in Java to concat strings together, like so:
StringBuffer str = new StringBuffer();
str.append("string value");
I would like to know if there's a method (although I didn't find anything from a quick glance at the documentation) or some other way to add "padding".
Let me explain; every time I append something to the string, I want to add a space in the end, like so:
String foo = "string value";
str.append(foo + " ");
and I have several calls to append.. and every time, I want to add a space. Is there a way to set the object so that it will add a space automatically after each append?
EDIT --
String input
StringBuffer query = new StringBuffer();
Scanner scanner = new Scanner(System.in);
scanner.UseDelimiter("\n");
do {
System.out.println("sql> ");
input = scanner.next();
if (!empty(input)) query.append(input);
if (query.toString().trim().endsWith(";")) {
//run query
}
}
while (!input.equalsIgnoreCase("exit");
I'll use StringBuilder though as grom suggested, but that's how the code looks right now
I think this is handled easier either with a helper method (untested code):
public String myMethod() {
StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
addToBuffer(sb, "Hello").addToBuffer("there,");
addToBuffer(sb, "it").addToBuffer(sb, "works");
}
private StringBuilder addToBuffer(StringBuilder sb, String what) {
return sb.append(what).append(' '); // char is even faster here! ;)
}
Or even using a Builder pattern with a fluent interface (also untested code):
public String myMethod() {
SBBuilder builder = new SBBuilder()
.add("Hello").add("there")
.add("it", "works", "just", "fine!");
for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
builder.add("adding").add(String.valueOf(i));
}
System.out.println(builder.build());
}
public static class SBBuilder {
private StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
public SBBuilder add(String... parts) {
for (String p : parts) {
sb.append(p).append(' '); // char is even faster here! ;)
}
return this;
}
public String build() {
return sb.toString();
}
}
Here's an article on the subject.
Hope it helps! :)
You should be using StringBuilder.
Where possible, it is recommended that this class be used in preference to StringBuffer as it will be faster under most implementations.
StringBuffer is final. You cannot derive from it.
The Best solution really is to add the padding for yourself. Write a method for it and use a PADDING-Constant so that you can easily change it, or better put it in a parameter.
Can you not create a new class which wraps around StringBuffer
and add an appendWithTrailingSpace()
method?
CustomStringBuffer str = new CustomStringBuffer();
str.appendWithTrailingSpace("string value");
(Although you may want to call your method something a little shorter.)
Just add the space yourself, it's easy enough, as per your own example.
Another possibility is that StringBuilder objects return themselves when you call append, meaning you can do:
str.append("string value").append(" ");
Not quite as slick, but it is probably an easier solution than the + " " method.
Another possibility is to build a wrapper class, like PaddedStringBuilder, that provides the same methods but applies the padding you want, since you can't inherit.