Hello, I have to write a function to input a Label and a number, and output a line as the following format: Column 1 to 30: field label, left justified. Column 31 to 45: A number, right justified. The middle is padded with space. May I know how can I achieve this? (I don't know how to count the length of the label/number, and how to pad the spaces in between.) Please help. Many thanks.

I haven't the slightest idea what you need. Can you give more details please? Not sure what "the middle padded with space" is saying. -jim

In Solaris: [589:tragicomix:/export/home/sc02048]> more file aaaaa 1111 bbb 2222 ccccccc 33 ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd 123456789012345 [590:tragicomix:/export/home/sc02048]> awk '{printf ("%-30s %15s \n"),$1,$2}' file aaaaa 1111 bbb 2222 ccccccc 33 ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd 123456789012345

typeset -L30 variableName This will left justify a variable and limit the size to 30 characters. It will fill with trailing blanks or truncate the data if it is larger then 30 characters. typeset -R15 variableName This will right justify a variable and limit the size to 15 characters. It will fill with leading blanks or truncate the data if it is larger than 15 characters. To find the length of a variable: echo "${#variableName}" or print "${#variableName}" To pad a variable with space is simply a matter of: echo "${variableName} ${variableName}" Put as may spaces between the variableName as you want. The print and typeset commands are Korn shell commands. Jerry