2021-05-05 17:13:49 +00:00
---
id: 594810f028c0303b75339ad0
title: Align columns
challengeType: 5
forumTopicId: 302224
dashedName: align-columns
---
# --description--
2021-07-16 05:33:16 +00:00
Given an array of many lines, where fields within a line are delineated by a single `$` character, write a program that aligns each column of fields by ensuring that words in each column are separated by at least one space. Further, allow for each word in a column to be either left justified, right justified, or center justified within its column.
2021-05-05 17:13:49 +00:00
# --instructions--
Use the following text to test your programs:
2021-07-16 05:33:16 +00:00
```js
const testText = [
'Given$a$text$file$of$many$lines',
'where$fields$within$a$line$',
'are$delineated$by$a$single$"dollar"$character',
'write$a$program',
'that$aligns$each$column$of$fields',
'by$ensuring$that$words$in$each$',
'column$are$separated$by$at$least$one$space.',
'Further,$allow$for$each$word$in$a$column$to$be$either$left$',
'justified,$right$justified',
'or$center$justified$within$its$column.'
];
```
2021-05-05 17:13:49 +00:00
**Note that:**
2021-07-16 05:33:16 +00:00
- The example input texts lines may, or may not, have trailing dollar characters.
- All columns should share the same alignment.
- Consecutive space characters produced adjacent to the end of lines are insignificant for the purposes of the task.
- Output text will be viewed in a mono-spaced font on a plain text editor or basic terminal. Lines in it should be joined using new line character (`\n`).
- The minimum space between columns should be computed from the text and not hard-coded.
- It is not a requirement to add separating characters between or around columns.
For example, one of the lines from the `testText` , after jusitifing to the right, left and center respectivelly:
```js
' column are separated by at least one space.\n'
'column are separated by at least one space.\n'
' column are separated by at least one space.\n'
```
2021-05-05 17:13:49 +00:00
# --hints--
`formatText` should be a function.
```js
assert(typeof formatText === 'function');
```
2021-07-16 05:33:16 +00:00
`formatText(testText, 'right')` should produce text with columns justified to the right.
2021-05-05 17:13:49 +00:00
```js
2021-07-16 05:33:16 +00:00
assert.strictEqual(formatText(_testText, 'right'), rightAligned);
2021-05-05 17:13:49 +00:00
```
2021-07-16 05:33:16 +00:00
`formatText(testText, 'left')` should produce text with columns justified to the left.
2021-05-05 17:13:49 +00:00
```js
2021-07-16 05:33:16 +00:00
assert.strictEqual(formatText(_testText, 'left'), leftAligned);
2021-05-05 17:13:49 +00:00
```
2021-07-16 05:33:16 +00:00
`formatText(testText, 'center')` should produce text with columns justified to the center.
2021-05-05 17:13:49 +00:00
```js
2021-07-16 05:33:16 +00:00
assert.strictEqual(formatText(_testText, 'center'), centerAligned);
2021-05-05 17:13:49 +00:00
```
# --seed--
## --after-user-code--
```js
2021-07-16 05:33:16 +00:00
const _testText = [
2021-05-05 17:13:49 +00:00
'Given$a$text$file$of$many$lines',
'where$fields$within$a$line$',
2021-07-16 05:33:16 +00:00
'are$delineated$by$a$single$"dollar"$character',
2021-05-05 17:13:49 +00:00
'write$a$program',
'that$aligns$each$column$of$fields$',
'by$ensuring$that$words$in$each$',
'column$are$separated$by$at$least$one$space.',
'Further,$allow$for$each$word$in$a$column$to$be$either$left$',
'justified,$right$justified',
'or$center$justified$within$its$column.'
];
const rightAligned = ' Given a text file of many lines\n' +
' where fields within a line \n' +
' are delineated by a single "dollar" character\n' +
' write a program\n' +
' that aligns each column of fields \n' +
' by ensuring that words in each \n' +
' column are separated by at least one space.\n' +
' Further, allow for each word in a column to be either left \n' +
'justified, right justified\n' +
' or center justified within its column.';
const leftAligned = 'Given a text file of many lines \n' +
'where fields within a line \n' +
'are delineated by a single "dollar" character\n' +
'write a program \n' +
'that aligns each column of fields \n' +
'by ensuring that words in each \n' +
'column are separated by at least one space.\n' +
'Further, allow for each word in a column to be either left \n' +
'justified, right justified\n' +
'or center justified within its column. ';
const centerAligned = ' Given a text file of many lines \n' +
' where fields within a line \n' +
' are delineated by a single \"dollar\" character\n' +
' write a program \n' +
' that aligns each column of fields \n' +
' by ensuring that words in each \n' +
' column are separated by at least one space.\n' +
' Further, allow for each word in a column to be either left \n' +
'justified, right justified\n' +
' or center justified within its column. ';
```
## --seed-contents--
```js
function formatText(input, justification) {
}
2021-07-16 05:33:16 +00:00
const testText = [
2021-05-05 17:13:49 +00:00
'Given$a$text$file$of$many$lines',
'where$fields$within$a$line$',
'are$delineated$by$a$single$"dollar"$character',
'write$a$program',
'that$aligns$each$column$of$fields$',
'by$ensuring$that$words$in$each$',
'column$are$separated$by$at$least$one$space.',
'Further,$allow$for$each$word$in$a$column$to$be$either$left$',
'justified,$right$justified',
'or$center$justified$within$its$column.'
];
2021-07-16 05:33:16 +00:00
```
# --solutions--
2021-05-05 17:13:49 +00:00
2021-07-16 05:33:16 +00:00
```js
2021-05-05 17:13:49 +00:00
String.prototype.repeat = function (n) { return new Array(1 + parseInt(n)).join(this); };
function formatText(input, justification) {
let x, y, max, cols = 0, diff, left, right;
for (x = 0; x < input.length ; x + + ) {
input[x] = input[x].split('$');
if (input[x].length > cols) {
cols = input[x].length;
}
}
for (x = 0; x < cols ; x + + ) {
max = 0;
for (y = 0; y < input.length ; y + + ) {
if (input[y][x] & & max < input [ y ] [ x ] . length ) {
max = input[y][x].length;
}
}
for (y = 0; y < input.length ; y + + ) {
if (input[y][x]) {
diff = (max - input[y][x].length) / 2;
left = ' '.repeat(Math.floor(diff));
right = ' '.repeat(Math.ceil(diff));
if (justification === 'left') {
right += left; left = '';
}
if (justification === 'right') {
left += right; right = '';
}
input[y][x] = left + input[y][x] + right;
}
}
}
for (x = 0; x < input.length ; x + + ) {
input[x] = input[x].join(' ');
}
input = input.join('\n');
return input;
}
```