# formatter question **URL:** \ **Category:** Toad for Oracle & DevOps Toolkit\ **Created:** [February 8, 2010, 10:25am UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/formatter-question/9210 "2010-02-08T10:25:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wpenfoldithaca.edu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/35a633/32.png) [@wpenfoldithaca.edu](https://forums.toadworld.com/u/wpenfoldithaca.edu)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 10:25am UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/formatter-question/9210/1 "2010-02-08T10:25:30Z")
I used to be able to get all my varible declarations types to line up, but now this is the best I can do. I have the formatter option set to 'Fixed align types at offset 40. Is there some option I'm missing? This certainly isn't a critical problem, just annoying. I used to be able to get all my varible declarations types to line up, but now this is the best I can do. I have the formatter option set to 'Fixed align types at offset 40. Is there some option I'm missing? This certainly isn't a critical problem, just annoying. ![moz-screenshot-141.jpeg](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/quest/original/2X/9/9502c47bc778a660fcfd1493a5260a03dc5333eb.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Phyllis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e19adc/32.png) [@Phyllis](https://forums.toadworld.com/u/Phyllis)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 11:50am UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/formatter-question/9210/2 "2010-02-08T11:50:24Z")
Hi Wendy, It looks like your problem is due to the font, not the formatter. Your font needs to be a fixed-width font like Courier New in order to have things line up properly, but it looks like you are using a variable-width font in the editor. . . Phyllis ![moz-screenshot-141.jpeg](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/quest/original/2X/9/9502c47bc778a660fcfd1493a5260a03dc5333eb.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![wpenfoldithaca.edu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/35a633/32.png) [@wpenfoldithaca.edu](https://forums.toadworld.com/u/wpenfoldithaca.edu)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/formatter-question/9210/3 "2010-02-08T16:36:11Z")
Hi Phyllis, here is how it looks in Courier... I formatted it using the compact option and then reformatted using Fixed...30. It's not that important I guess. Phyllis Helton wrote: > Hi Wendy, > > It looks like your problem is due to the font, not the formatter. > Your font needs to be a fixed-width font like Courier New in order to > have things line up properly, but it looks like you are using a > variable-width font in the editor. . . > > Phyllis > > _From:_ [toad@yahoogroups.com](mailto:toad@yahoogroups.com) [[mailto:toad@yahoogroups.com](mailto:toad@yahoogroups.com)] \*On Behalf > Of \*Wendy Penfold > _Sent:_ Monday, February 08, 2010 11:26 AM > _To:_ ToadList > _Subject:_ [toad] formatter question > > I used to be able to get all my varible declarations types to line up, > but now this is the best I can do. I have the formatter option set to > 'Fixed align types at offset 40. Is there some option I'm missing? > This certainly isn't a critical problem, just annoying. Hi Phyllis, here is how it looks in Courier... I formatted it using the compact option and then reformatted using Fixed...30. It's not that important I guess. Phyllis Helton wrote: Hi Wendy, It looks like your problem is due to the font, not the formatter. Your font needs to be a fixed-width font like Courier New in order to have things line up properly, but it looks like you are using a variable-width font in the editor. . . Phyllis [att1.dat](https://forums.toadworld.com/uploads/default/original/2X/0/0c81e5c78528f94ef09cea0cc74629fc1bb853ef.dat) (73.2 KB) ---
**Author:** ![wpenfoldithaca.edu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/35a633/32.png) [@wpenfoldithaca.edu](https://forums.toadworld.com/u/wpenfoldithaca.edu)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/formatter-question/9210/4 "2010-02-08T16:36:11Z")
Hi Phyllis, here is how it looks in Courier... I formatted it using the compact option and then reformatted using Fixed...30. It's not that important I guess. Phyllis Helton wrote: > Hi Wendy, > > It looks like your problem is due to the font, not the formatter. > Your font needs to be a fixed-width font like Courier New in order to > have things line up properly, but it looks like you are using a > variable-width font in the editor. . . > > Phyllis > > _From:_ [toad@yahoogroups.com](mailto:toad@yahoogroups.com) [[mailto:toad@yahoogroups.com](mailto:toad@yahoogroups.com)] \*On Behalf > Of \*Wendy Penfold > _Sent:_ Monday, February 08, 2010 11:26 AM > _To:_ ToadList > _Subject:_ [toad] formatter question > > I used to be able to get all my varible declarations types to line up, > but now this is the best I can do. I have the formatter option set to > 'Fixed align types at offset 40. Is there some option I'm missing? > This certainly isn't a critical problem, just annoying. Hi Phyllis, here is how it looks in Courier... I formatted it using the compact option and then reformatted using Fixed...30. It's not that important I guess. Phyllis Helton wrote: Hi Wendy, It looks like your problem is due to the font, not the formatter. Your font needs to be a fixed-width font like Courier New in order to have things line up properly, but it looks like you are using a variable-width font in the editor. . . Phyllis ![image001.jpeg](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/quest/original/1X/e970605e6487dee5dd44a0f9a069233fb6a640d6.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Guest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@Guest](https://forums.toadworld.com/u/Guest)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 4:44pm UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/formatter-question/9210/5 "2010-02-08T16:44:32Z")
That kind of looks like a tabs issue – the text was initially formatted with all the types at column 40, and whitespace was replaced with tabs assuming tab stops were every 8 columns, and now it’s being displayed with tab stops every 4 columns. Nate Schroeder IT Commercial Technical Services - Data Management Team Monsanto Company 800 N. Lindbergh Blvd. G3WI - Saint Louis, MO - 63167 314-694-2592 ![moz-screenshot-141.jpeg](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/quest/original/2X/9/9502c47bc778a660fcfd1493a5260a03dc5333eb.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Guest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@Guest](https://forums.toadworld.com/u/Guest)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 4:44pm UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/formatter-question/9210/6 "2010-02-08T16:44:32Z")
That kind of looks like a tabs issue – the text was initially formatted with all the types at column 40, and whitespace was replaced with tabs assuming tab stops were every 8 columns, and now it’s being displayed with tab stops every 4 columns. Nate Schroeder IT Commercial Technical Services - Data Management Team Monsanto Company 800 N. Lindbergh Blvd. G3WI - Saint Louis, MO - 63167 314-694-2592 ![image001.jpeg](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/quest/original/1X/e970605e6487dee5dd44a0f9a069233fb6a640d6.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![avergison](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/quest/user_avatar/forums.toadworld.com/avergison/32/66_2.png) [@avergison](https://forums.toadworld.com/u/avergison)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 2:40am UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/formatter-question/9210/7 "2010-02-09T02:40:04Z")
The ragged alignment is caused by unequal formatter and Toad editor tab settings. Andre ![moz-screenshot-141.jpeg](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/quest/original/2X/9/9502c47bc778a660fcfd1493a5260a03dc5333eb.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![avergison](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/quest/user_avatar/forums.toadworld.com/avergison/32/66_2.png) [@avergison](https://forums.toadworld.com/u/avergison)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 2:40am UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/formatter-question/9210/8 "2010-02-09T02:40:04Z")
The ragged alignment is caused by unequal formatter and Toad editor tab settings. Andre ![image001.jpeg](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/quest/original/1X/e970605e6487dee5dd44a0f9a069233fb6a640d6.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![wpenfoldithaca.edu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/35a633/32.png) [@wpenfoldithaca.edu](https://forums.toadworld.com/u/wpenfoldithaca.edu)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 7:44am UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/formatter-question/9210/9 "2010-02-09T07:44:53Z")
Toad editor was set to tab 4 and the formatter was set to tab 3. I changed them to match and now things line up well in Courier, still meanders if I use a TT font. Is this a requirement then, to use a fixed width font? Andre Vergison wrote: > The ragged alignment is caused by unequal formatter and Toad editor > tab settings. > > Andre Toad editor was set to tab 4 and the formatter was set to tab 3. I changed them to match and now things line up well in Courier, still meanders if I use a TT font. Is this a requirement then, to use a fixed width font? Andre Vergison wrote: ``` The ragged alignment is caused by unequal formatter and Toad editor tab settings. Andre ``` [att1.dat](https://forums.toadworld.com/uploads/default/original/2X/0/0c81e5c78528f94ef09cea0cc74629fc1bb853ef.dat) (73.2 KB) ---
**Author:** ![wpenfoldithaca.edu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/35a633/32.png) [@wpenfoldithaca.edu](https://forums.toadworld.com/u/wpenfoldithaca.edu)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 7:44am UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/formatter-question/9210/10 "2010-02-09T07:44:53Z")
Toad editor was set to tab 4 and the formatter was set to tab 3. I changed them to match and now things line up well in Courier, still meanders if I use a TT font. Is this a requirement then, to use a fixed width font? Andre Vergison wrote: > The ragged alignment is caused by unequal formatter and Toad editor > tab settings. > > Andre Toad editor was set to tab 4 and the formatter was set to tab 3. I changed them to match and now things line up well in Courier, still meanders if I use a TT font. Is this a requirement then, to use a fixed width font? Andre Vergison wrote: ``` The ragged alignment is caused by unequal formatter and Toad editor tab settings. Andre ``` [att1.dat](https://forums.toadworld.com/uploads/default/original/2X/9/9f35fd31e2a596e1bcdbbd766f47ac5ca458920f.dat) (59.9 KB) ---
**Author:** ![HillbillyToad](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/quest/user_avatar/forums.toadworld.com/hillbillytoad/32/190_2.png) [@HillbillyToad](https://forums.toadworld.com/u/HillbillyToad)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 8:09am UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/formatter-question/9210/11 "2010-02-09T08:09:24Z")
If the characters are of different widths, how else could you expect them to line up perfectly? ![moz-screenshot-141.jpeg](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/quest/original/2X/9/9502c47bc778a660fcfd1493a5260a03dc5333eb.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![HillbillyToad](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/quest/user_avatar/forums.toadworld.com/hillbillytoad/32/190_2.png) [@HillbillyToad](https://forums.toadworld.com/u/HillbillyToad)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 8:09am UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/formatter-question/9210/12 "2010-02-09T08:09:24Z")
If the characters are of different widths, how else could you expect them to line up perfectly? ![image001.jpeg](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/quest/original/1X/e970605e6487dee5dd44a0f9a069233fb6a640d6.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![NormTeamT](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/quest/user_avatar/forums.toadworld.com/normteamt/32/53_2.png) [@NormTeamT](https://forums.toadworld.com/u/NormTeamT)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 8:16am UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/formatter-question/9210/13 "2010-02-09T08:16:38Z")
Hi Wendy, > > in Courier, still meanders if I use a TT font. Is this a > > requirement then, to use a fixed width font? The "problem" is when you use tabs and spaces (or both together). In a proportional font, a line of 10 spaces (or tabs) isn't always the same width as another line of 10 spaces (or tabs). It depends on the letters the 10 spaces are mixed with. The proportional bit somehow describes that if a 'W' comes after a 'W' there will be a certain space between the two. If that 'W' comes after an 'j' then the spacing will be different. You can see the same problem in Word, for example, if you set a tab anywhere then type the following: Hhh Iii The lines match up. However, type a few leading spaces and it's all over the place. I tested with Arial 10. When you change to a fixed pitch font, every letter is exactly the same width so they always match up. For any text editor, or code editor, I tend (myself) to use Courier or some other fixed pitch font. When writing documents or love letters, I use a proportional font. HTH Cheers, Norm. [TeamT] PS. Rich should chime in any time soon, he loves font related threads! 😉 Information in this message may be confidential and may be legally privileged. If you have received this message by mistake, please notify the sender immediately, delete it and do not copy it to anyone else. We have checked this email and its attachments for viruses. But you should still check any attachment before opening it. We may have to make this message and any reply to it public if asked to under the Freedom of Information Act, Data Protection Act or for litigation. Email messages and attachments sent to or from any Environment Agency address may also be accessed by someone other than the sender or recipient, for business purposes. If we have sent you information and you wish to use it please read our terms and conditions which you can get by calling us on 08708 506 506. Find out more about the Environment Agency at [www.environment-agency.gov.uk](http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk) Information in this message may be confidential and may be legally privileged. If you have received this message by mistake, please notify the sender immediately, delete it and do not copy it to anyone else. We have checked this email and its attachments for viruses. But you should still check any attachment before opening it. We may have to make this message and any reply to it public if asked to under the Freedom of Information Act, Data Protection Act or for litigation. Email messages and attachments sent to or from any Environment Agency address may also be accessed by someone other than the sender or recipient, for business purposes. If we have sent you information and you wish to use it please read our terms and conditions which you can get by calling us on 08708 506 506. Find out more about the Environment Agency at [www.environment-agency.gov.uk](http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk) ---
**Author:** ![mstaszew](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/quest/user_avatar/forums.toadworld.com/mstaszew/32/23_2.png) [@mstaszew](https://forums.toadworld.com/u/mstaszew)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 8:23am UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/formatter-question/9210/14 "2010-02-09T08:23:03Z")
I’ll add that we opted for MS Shell Dlg2 default font for Toad 10 as it should support all characters in the user’s native language. Toad 10 has full Unicode support and in order to provide this Toad should be able to display the user’s language in the Editor. We have changed the default to fixed width for 10.5 because of the perceived formatter bugs that have resulted. Michael ---
**Author:** ![wpenfoldithaca.edu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/35a633/32.png) [@wpenfoldithaca.edu](https://forums.toadworld.com/u/wpenfoldithaca.edu)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 9:13am UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/formatter-question/9210/15 "2010-02-09T09:13:19Z")
When I copy the formatted text from Toad and paste it intoWord in Courier font, and then switch the font to Arial, it still lines up the same, so Word seems to handle tabs and variable width fonts differently than Toad. Switching the tab widths and changing the font to Courier makes everything line up nice in Toad. Thanks for the info! Dunbar, Norman wrote: Hi Wendy, ``` >> in Courier, still meanders if I use a TT font. Is this a >> requirement then, to use a fixed width font? The "problem" is when you use tabs and spaces (or both together). In a proportional font, a line of 10 spaces (or tabs) isn't always the same width as another line of 10 spaces (or tabs). It depends on the letters the 10 spaces are mixed with. The proportional bit somehow describes that if a 'W' comes after a 'W' there will be a certain space between the two. If that 'W' comes after an 'j' then the spacing will be different. You can see the same problem in Word, for example, if you set a tab anywhere then type the following: Hhh Iii The lines match up. However, type a few leading spaces and it's all over the place. I tested with Arial 10. When you change to a fixed pitch font, every letter is exactly the same width so they always match up. For any text editor, or code editor, I tend (myself) to use Courier or some other fixed pitch font. When writing documents or love letters, I use a proportional font. HTH Cheers, Norm. [TeamT] PS. Rich should chime in any time soon, he loves font related threads! ;-) Information in this message may be confidential and may be legally privileged. If you have received this message by mistake, please notify the sender immediately, delete it and do not copy it to anyone else. We have checked this email and its attachments for viruses. But you should still check any attachment before opening it. We may have to make this message and any reply to it public if asked to under the Freedom of Information Act, Data Protection Act or for litigation. Email messages and attachments sent to or from any Environment Agency address may also be accessed by someone other than the sender or recipient, for business purposes. If we have sent you information and you wish to use it please read our terms and conditions which you can get by calling us on 08708 506 506. Find out more about the Environment Agency at www.environment - agency.gov. uk Information in this message may be confidential and may be legally privileged. If you have received this message by mistake, please notify the sender immediately, delete it and do not copy it to anyone else. We have checked this email and its attachments for viruses. But you should still check any attachment before opening it. We may have to make this message and any reply to it public if asked to under the Freedom of Information Act, Data Protection Act or for litigation. Email messages and attachments sent to or from any Environment Agency address may also be accessed by someone other than the sender or recipient, for business purposes. If we have sent you information and you wish to use it please read our terms and conditions which you can get by calling us on 08708 506 506. Find out more about the Environment Agency at www.environment - agency.gov. uk ``` ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/77aa72/32.png) [@Anonymous1](https://forums.toadworld.com/u/Anonymous1)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 9:22am UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/formatter-question/9210/16 "2010-02-09T09:22:42Z")
Remember WORD is a word processor and The TOAD Editor is an PROGRAM EDITOR. Programming text should always be in fixed point font. Word processing text is meant to be seen by humans and therefore it has things like internal tab positions that can be set. Program text is meant to be seen by programmers and is input to a compiler. So there are different needs. The Toad Editor does not (and should not) use tab positions. It uses the TAB key to enter a tab character that causes x number of physical spaces to be skipped. ![image001.jpeg](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/quest/original/1X/e8288ef7bf69daaab6959f752b25ca292478b911.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![wpenfoldithaca.edu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/35a633/32.png) [@wpenfoldithaca.edu](https://forums.toadworld.com/u/wpenfoldithaca.edu)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 9:44am UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/formatter-question/9210/17 "2010-02-09T09:44:34Z")
Yes, mein capitan. I don’t expect Toad to be a word processor, no complaint intended, just needed to understand how it does work. Erwin Rollauer wrote: Remember WORD is a word processor and The TOAD Editor is an PROGRAM EDITOR. Programming text should always be in fixed point font. Word processing text is meant to be seen by humans and therefore it has things like internal tab positions that can be set. Program text is meant to be seen by programmers and is input to a compiler. So there are different needs. The Toad Editor does not (and should not) use tab positions. It uses the TAB key to enter a tab character that causes x number of physical spaces to be skipped. ---
**Author:** ![Anonymous1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/77aa72/32.png) [@Anonymous1](https://forums.toadworld.com/u/Anonymous1)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2010, 10:10am UTC](https://forums.toadworld.com/t/formatter-question/9210/18 "2010-02-09T10:10:27Z")
Since I may have come over as a little bit of a grouch let me add a suggestion so as to show I am a sweet grouch. Change your toad setting so it does not use tabs but replaces them with spaces. You still hit the tab key but it generates the appropriate number of spaces. The reason for this is that if you uses some other editor (notepad in an emergency) to view the source you will not see things miss-aligned because no word processor applications often have default tab positions that may or may not be settable. Go to View è Toad options è Editor è behaviour In the tabs section chose USE SMART TAB or USE SPACES but not USE TABS ![image001.jpeg](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/quest/original/1X/e8288ef7bf69daaab6959f752b25ca292478b911.jpeg)