java - how to nicely indent when the \t is incorrect. -

i'm trying have indentation correct. in code below, s2 comes database , output console (system.out.println). in fact, s2 list of objects , s2 tostring indentation. simplicity issues, consider following code:

public class testindent {     public static void main(string[] args)     {         string s1 = "case num\ttype\tref date\tamount";         string s2 = "9157120183\tppaq\t*** ref date not exists! ***\t$95.00";                 system.out.println(s1);         system.out.println(s2);     } } 

the output be:

case num    type    ref date    amount 9157120183  ppaq    *** ref date not exists! ***    $95.00 

my desire have indent correctly this:

case num    type    ref date                        amount 9157120183  ppaq    *** ref date not exists! ***    $95.00 

you note 'amount' right on top of number (which correct place). before i'm writing class indent based on max length of string, wondering if exists problem.

a tab character single character render differently in different environments inherently hard use - looks nice on console may fine on mine, or poo on lee meador's has 8 character wide tabs.

you use sotirios's suggestion creating function pad headers spaces - can trust spaces. of course if console not using fixed width font can not rely on either - better.

you use javas inbuilt string formatting reduce need manual calculation if know how wide want display columns, truncate long values, e.g:

system.out.printf("%-10.10s  %-6.6s %-30.30s %-10.10s%n", "case num", "type", "ref date", "amount"); system.out.printf("%-10.10s  %-6.6s %-30.30s %-10.10s%n", "9157120183", "ppaq", "*** ref date not exists! ***", "$95.00"); 

or leave output tab separated or comma separated , write file , let program designed rendering these things deal it.