Re: how to print data with a table-like layout in txt file

Thursday, September 18, 2008, 5:28:53 AM, HawkCoretech wrote:

> Hi all,
> I would like to print data with a table-like layout in a pure txt file (NOT
> in html file), like following:
>  B01  154  155  140  147  147  149  158  117  149  142  152  147  160  147
>  B02    0    0    0    0    1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
>  B03    0    0    1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
>  B04    0    5    2    1    2    1    2    4    2    1    1    4    2    4
>  B05    2    1    3    2    2    0    3    9    0    3    0    0    0    2
>  B06    1    0    1    2    0    2    0    0    5    2    0    1    0    0
>  B07    0    1    1    0    0    2    0    1    0    1    0    0    0    1
>  B08    2    1    3    2    0    1    1    0    1    2    2    1    1    2
>  
>  the data comes from database query.
>  
>  my idea is :
>  1)calculate the data and store them in a sequence row by row, use <#list>
> to print it all.
>  
>  but if we want this table has more flexibility or configurable, for example
> a summary column or summary row like this:
>  
>   B01  154  155  140  147  147  149  158  117  149  142  152  147  160  147
> total
>  B02    0    0    0    0    1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
> 1
>  B03    0    0    1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0
> 0
>  B04    0    5    2    1    2    1    2    4    2    1    1    4    2    4
> 29
>  B05    2    1    3    2    2    0    3    9    0    3    0    0    0    2
> 27
>  B06    1    0    1    2    0    2    0    0    5    2    0    1    0    0
> 16
>  B07    0    1    1    0    0    2    0    1    0    1    0    0    0    1
> 7
>  B08    2    1    3    2    0    1    1    0    1    2    2    1    1    2
> 19
>  total  5    7    11   7    5    6    6    14   8    9    3    6    3    9
> 99
>  
>  or even more complex printing like cross table, or separation line,
> adjusting column width, row height, spacing between columns, maybe we should
>  2)build a custom data model for table.
>  
>   any suggestion? thanks in advance.

FreeMarker is not meant to be used for calculation, only for the
presentation (visual things) of already existing data, so in principle
2) is the way to go. But some non-MVC application still chooses
templates to do calculations, but only trivial ones, primarily because
FreeMarker can't really build tables dynamically, unless you create
some custom methods (TemplateMethodModelEx) for that, also for more
complex algorithms its syntax is too verbose. Regarding adjusting
column width and like, that's the task of the template, you should do
it there. Although, frankly, I'm not too optimistic regrading the
plain-text formatting capabilities of FreeMarker or of any other "Web"
template engine, as these things are designed for printing white-space
insensitive things, like HTML. (Besides, generating plain text
on-the-fly on the manner as HTML is generated in these template
engines is just impossible in the generic case. Even if a plain text
specialist template engine was exist, it certainly would want you to
enter some XML-ish thing into the template (not the plain text), that
it would render to plain text in bursts at certain points, like even
only when the template execution was finished. But, of course
formatting tables in a concrete application can be simpler than the
generic case.)

-- 
Best regards,
 Daniel Dekany


-------------------------------------------------------------------------
This SF.Net email is sponsored by the Moblin Your Move Developer's challenge
Build the coolest Linux based applications with Moblin SDK & win great prizes
Grand prize is a trip for two to an Open Source event anywhere in the world
http://moblin-contest.org/redirect.php?banner_id=100&url=/