print formatting in python

Question

I have a question: How can I print a character on a specific stdout column?

I know that:

print '{0} and {1}'.format('spam', 'eggs')

prints spam on the first column and eggs on the second one.

But I want to do this:

column = 3
...
print '{column}'.format('spam')

cheers.

SOmetimes when writing quick-and-dirty scripts I have been known to use .format(**locals()) (so I can refer to local variables inside the string). — Katriel
– Katriel, Commented Nov 21, 2011 at 11:41

Tadeck · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-21 11:15:28Z

4

You have two options to do it.

First option - pass it in parameter:

>>> print '{column}'.format(column='spam')
spam

Second option - unpack a dictionary (using **):

>>> print '{column}'.format(**{'column':'spam'})
spam

answered Nov 21, 2011 at 11:15

Tadeck

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4 Comments

dierre Over a year ago

I didn't know you could use aliases like that. Nice one.

Tadeck Over a year ago

@rplnt: Giving links without annotations is not helpful, because you do not know whether link is useful to you until you click on it. But in fact, that link provides more examples of how to use .format() method of str objects.

rplnt Over a year ago

@Tadeck I thought that the link was pretty self-explanatory (format-examples). But I'll be more careful in the future, thanks.

Tadeck Over a year ago

@rplnt: Thanks. You can add explanations to links in the following way: [some explanation about Example.com](http://www.example.com/). Good luck.

dierre · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-21 11:21:31Z

0

You can do something like this but it's quite ugly.

column = 3
message = '{'+str(column)+'}'
print message.format(0,0,0,'spam')

answered Nov 21, 2011 at 11:21

dierre

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1 Comment

Academia Over a year ago

This, in fact, gives me an idea. Thanks a lot.

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