1. Input and Formatted Output (printf)
CSE 1310 – Introduction to Computers and Programming
University of Texas at Arlington

2. Book reference
2.3 Input and Output

3. Input Import: java.util.Scanner Create a Scanner object:
Scanner kb = new Scanner(System.in);
(You can use any name instead of kb. E.g: Scanner in = new Scanner(System.in); )
E.g. read in (from the user/keyboard):
Any of the methods above for reading data in, when executed, “halt” to allow the user to type data. Only after the user hits Enter the continues to execute.
Read data and store it as type:
Method call (on a Scanner object named kb)
Example instruction
int
kb.nextInt()
int n = kb.nextInt();
double
kb.nextDouble()
double salary = kb.nextDouble();
String
kb.nextLine()
String name = kb.nextLine();
(data until Enter, Enter dissapears)
kb.next()
String name = kb.next();
(data until space or Enter, Enter remains)

4. Entering more than one piece of data per line
int age=0; double temp=0; String nm = ""; System.out.println("Enter (separated by one space): age name number"); age = kb.nextInt(); nm = kb.next(); // NOT nextLine temp = kb.nextDouble(); System.out.printf("Hi %s!%n", nm); System.out.printf("The outside temperature is %.2f.%nYour age is %d.%n", temp, age);
Sample run:
Enter (separated by one space): age name number
20 Sam 87.5
Hi Sam!
The outside temperature is
Your age is 20.

5. next() vs nextLine() Code Output
System.out.print("What is your name? ");
// nextLine reads the whole line (up to new line):
name = kb.nextLine();
System.out.println("Hello " + name);
What is your name? Alex Stefan
Hello Alex Stefan
// next reads up to first separator (space, Enter, tab):
name = kb.next();
Hello Alex

6. Why nextLine() seems to not work sometimes
- When the user presses Enter, the corresponding symbol (%n) is recorded in the input stream. So there will be a character there for the Enter (also called new-line character: %n or \n).
- nextInt(), nextDouble() and next() do NOT “eat” the Enter at the end of the line.
- nextLine() DOES consume the Enter from the end of the line.
- If nextLine() is used after a next()/nextInt()/nextDouble() it will just read the Enter left there from these methods. Solution: use an extra nextLine() just to consume that Enter.
Code
Output
System.out.print("What is your name? ");
name = kb.next(); // will NOT “eat” the Enter after Alex System.out.println("Hello " + name);
System.out.print("What is your last name? ");
last = kb.nextLine();
System.out.println("Hello " + last);
What is your name? Alex
Hello Alex
What is your last name? Hello
System.out.print("What is your last name? "); kb.nextLine(); // it will “eat” the Enter after Alex
What is your last name? Stefan
Hello Stefan

7. System.out.printf
public class example1 {
public static void main(String[] args) {
int days = 31;
String month = "July";
double temperature = 85.3;
System.out.printf("There are %d days in %s%n", days, month);
System.out.printf("Average temperature in %s: %f degrees%n",
month, temperature); }
Output:
There are 31 days in July
Average temperature in July: degrees
System.out.printf gives you an easy way to print nicer output, by combining text, variables, and other values.

8. System.out.printf printf works as follows:
public class example1 {
public static void main(String[] args) {
int days = 31;
String month = "July";
double temperature = 85.3;
System.out.printf("There are %d days in %s%n", days, month);
System.out.printf("Average temperature in %s: %f degrees%n",
month, temperature); }
printf works as follows:
It starts printing the text in the first argument.
There are

9. System.out.printf printf works as follows:
public class example1 {
public static void main(String[] args) {
int days = 31;
String month = "July";
double temperature = 85.3;
System.out.printf("There are %d days in %s%n", days, month);
System.out.printf("Average temperature in %s: %f degrees%n",
month, temperature); }
printf works as follows:
It starts printing the text in the first argument.
When it finds the first % sign, it prints the second argument.
There are 31

10. System.out.printf printf works as follows:
public class example1 {
public static void main(String[] args) {
int days = 31;
String month = "July";
double temperature = 85.3;
System.out.printf("There are %d days in %s%n", days, month);
System.out.printf("Average temperature in %s: %f degrees%n",
month, temperature); }
printf works as follows:
It starts printing the text in the first argument.
When it finds the first % sign, it prints the second argument.
It continues printing text.
There are 31 days in

11. System.out.printf printf works as follows:
public class example1 {
public static void main(String[] args) {
int days = 31;
String month = "July";
double temperature = 85.3;
System.out.printf("There are %d days in %s%n", days, month);
System.out.printf("Average temperature in %s: %f degrees%n",
month, temperature); }
printf works as follows:
It starts printing the text in the first argument.
When it finds the first % sign, it prints the second argument.
It continues printing text.
When it finds the second % sign, it prints the third argument.
There are 31 days in July

12. System.out.printf printf works as follows:
public class example1 {
public static void main(String[] args) {
int days = 31;
String month = "July";
double temperature = 85.3;
System.out.printf("There are %d days in %s%n", days, month);
System.out.printf("Average temperature in %s: %f degrees%n",
month, temperature); }
printf works as follows:
It starts printing the text in the first argument.
When it finds the first % sign, it prints the second argument.
It continues printing text.
When it finds the second % sign, it prints the third argument.
And so on, until the entire text is processed.

13. System.out.printf
public class example1 {
public static void main(String[] args) {
int days = 31;
String month = "July";
System.out.printf("There are %d days in %s%n", days, "July");
System.out.printf("Average temperature in %s: %f degrees%n",
month, ( ) / 2.0); }
The values that you provide in the second argument, third argument, and so on, can be:
variables, like days in the example above.
constants, like "July" in the example above.
expressions, like:
( ) / 2.0 in the example above.
Math.PI, (int)Math.floor(5.3)

14. Format Specifiers %d, %f, %s are called format specifiers.
public class example1 {
public static void main(String[] args) {
int days = 31;
String month = "July";
System.out.printf("There are %d days in %s%n", days, "July");
System.out.printf("Average temperature in %s: %f degrees%n",
month, ( ) / 2.0); }
%d, %f, %s are called format specifiers.
A format specifier must match the value that will be printed.
%d is for values of type int
%f is for values of type double
%s is for values of type String or char
%c is for values of type char (a type we will see soon).
%b is for values of type boolean (a type we will see soon).

15. Specifying Width
public class example1 {
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.printf("%20s, current temperature: %8.2f%n",
"Dallas", );
"San Francisco", );
"surface of the sun", ); }
After the % sign, you can put a number, specifying the minimum width for that value. For example:
%5d means "allocate at least 5 spaces for that int".
%10s means "allocate at least 10 spaces for that string".
%7f means "allocate at least 7 spaces for that double".
%7.2f means "allocate at least 7 spaces for that double, but only two after the decimal point".
%.2f means "allocate as many spaces as needed for that double, but only two after the decimal point".
This way you get nicely aligned columns in the output.

16. Specifying Width public class example1 {
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.printf("%20s, current temperature: %8.2f%n",
"Dallas", );
"San Francisco", );
"surface of the sun", ); }
Output:
Dallas, current temperature:
San Francisco, current temperature:
surface of the sun, current temperature:

17. Not Specifying Width Compare the previous output to this one.
public class example1 {
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.printf("%s, current temperature: %f%n",
"Dallas", );
"San Francisco", );
"surface of the sun", ); }
Output:
Dallas, current temperature:
San Francisco, current temperature:
surface of the sun, current temperature:
Compare the previous output to this one.
In this version of the code, we do not specify widths in printf.
The output does not look as nice.

18. Printing a New Line with %n
public class example1 {
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.printf("%s, current temperature: %8.2f%n",
"Dallas", );
"San Francisco", );
"surface of the sun", ); }
Output:
Dallas, current temperature:
San Francisco, current temperature:
surface of the sun, current temperature:
When you want to print a new line, put the special code %n in your text.

19. Printing a New Line with %n
public class example1 {
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.printf("%s, current temperature: %8.2f",
"Dallas", );
System.out.printf("%20s, current temperature: %8.2f",
"San Francisco", );
"surface of the sun", ); }
Output:
Dallas, current temperature: San Francisco, current temperature: surface of the sun, current temperature:
If you forget new lines, the output can look pretty ugly!

20. Syntax of System.out.printf
Syntax: System.out.printf("t1f1t2f2t3f3…tnfntn+1", v1, v2, v3, …, vn);
ti is text. You can put in there whatever you want.
fi is a format specifier. It specifies several things:
Value vi should be printed at that point.
The type of value vi.
How many characters should vi occupy.
vi is an int, double, or string.
It can be a variable.
It can be a constant, like 5, or 2.5, or "hello".
It can be any expression that evaluates to an int, double, or string.

21. Syntax of System.out.printf
Syntax: System.out.printf("t1f1t2f2t3f3…tnfntn+1", v1, v2, v3, …, vn);
ti is text. You can put in there whatever you want.
fi is a format specifier. It specifies several things:
vi is an int, double, or string.
System.out.printf("There are %d days in %s%n", 31, "July");
What is each ti in the line above?

22. Syntax of System.out.printf
Syntax: System.out.printf("t1f1t2f2t3f3…tnfntn+1", v1, v2, v3, …, vn);
ti is text. You can put in there whatever you want.
fi is a format specifier. It specifies several things:
vi is an int, double, or string.
System.out.printf("There are %d days in %s%n", 31, "July");
What is each ti in the line above?
t1 = "There are "
t2 = " days in "
t3 = “%n"

23. Syntax of System.out.printf
Syntax: System.out.printf("t1f1t2f2t3f3…tnfntn+1", v1, v2, v3, …, vn);
ti is text. You can put in there whatever you want.
fi is a format specifier. It specifies several things:
vi is an int, double, or string.
System.out.printf("There are %d days in %s%n", 31, "July");
What is each fi in the line above?

24. Syntax of System.out.printf
Syntax: System.out.printf("t1f1t2f2t3f3…tnfntn+1", v1, v2, v3, …, vn);
ti is text. You can put in there whatever you want.
fi is a format specifier. It specifies several things:
vi is an int, double, or string.
System.out.printf("There are %d days in %s%n", 31, "July");
What is each fi in the line above?
f1 = %d
f2 = %s

25. Syntax of System.out.printf
Syntax: System.out.printf("t1f1t2f2t3f3…tnfntn+1", v1, v2, v3, …, vn);
ti is text. You can put in there whatever you want.
fi is a format specifier. It specifies several things:
vi is an int, double, or string.
System.out.printf("There are %d days in %s%n", 31, "July");
What is each vi in the line above?

26. Syntax of System.out.printf
Syntax: System.out.printf("t1f1t2f2t3f3…tnfntn+1", v1, v2, v3, …, vn);
ti is text. You can put in there whatever you want.
fi is a format specifier. It specifies several things:
vi is an int, double, or string.
System.out.printf("There are %d days in %s%n", 31, "July");
What is each vi in the line above?
v1 = 31
v2 = "July"

27. Examples (added 9/9/15) Example Output: Notice the effect of
public class hello1 {
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.printf("%-10.2f%n", 18.0); // left aligned: -
System.out.printf("%10.2f%n", 20.0); // right aligned
System.out.printf("%10.2f", 10.2); // no text
System.out.printf(“%n"); // only %n
System.out.printf("%10.2f%5d%n", 15.7,3); // no text and %n
System.out.printf("%10.2f%d%n", 15.7,3);
System.out.printf("%10.2f%d", 15.7,3);
System.out.printf(“%n%10.2f%n%5d%n", 11.3,8); }
Example Output:
Notice the effect of
%-10.2f for 18.00
18.00
20.00
10.20
15.703
11.30 8

28. Escape sequences (added 9/9/15)
public class hello1 {
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.printf("some\ttext%nmore text");
System.out.printf("\roverwrite");
System.out.printf(“%nover\b\b\bwrite");
System.out.println(“%n123456\b\b\b\bXY");
System.out.printf(“%n\'\"\\");
System.out.printf(“%n"); } }
Output:
some text
overwrite
owrite
12XY
'"\
Escape sequences:
%n - new line (note: use %n (platform appropriate), not \n )
\t - tab
\r - carriage return (back to the beginning of the line)
\b - backspace (back one character)
\' - insert single quote in text
\" - insert double quote in text
\\ - insert backslash in text
To print the % sign, use %%. E.g. System.out.printf("%%");

29. Formatted Printing - References
Java API:
Oracle Java tutorial (brief):
FUN: You can also build a string (without printing it) using String.format(…). The format method works like the System.out.printf(…), but it returns a string.
String s;
s = String.format("There are %d days in %s%n", 31, "July");
System.out.println(s);

30. How the output screen “works”
You always print:
Left to right and
From top down
You can go back to the beginning of the line you’re on with \r
You can NEVER go up a line
So if you need to print something that looks like a table of numbers, you must print it row –by-row (according to the desired output). You cannot print it column-by-column.
If you printed more than a screen length, it scrolls down so you always have the line you are on at the bottom. To see the earlier lines, scroll up.
You can simulate clearing the screen by printing enough new lines to push the previous outputted text out of the visible range.
See this image.

31. Extra

32. The Circles Program, Revisited
import java.util.Scanner;
public class hello1 {
public static void main(String[] args) {
Scanner in = new Scanner(System.in);
System.out.printf("Please enter the radius: ");
double radius = in.nextDouble();
double circumference = 2 * Math.PI * radius;
double area = Math.PI * Math.pow(radius, 2);
System.out.println(circumference);
System.out.println(area); }
<-- Last version we saw. Used println.
Example Output:

33. The Circles Program, Revisited
import java.util.Scanner;
public class hello1 {
public static void main(String[] args) {
Scanner in = new Scanner(System.in);
System.out.printf("Please enter the radius: ");
double radius = in.nextDouble();
double circumference = 2 * Math.PI * radius;
double area = Math.PI * Math.pow(radius, 2);
System.out.println(circumference);
System.out.println(area); }
<-- Last version we saw.
Used println.
Example Output:
Please enter the radius: 10
The output does not look very nice.
Too many decimals.
No text.
Can we get output like this?
Please enter the radius: 10
The circumference is
The area is

34. The Circles Program, Revisited
import java.util.Scanner;
public class example1 {
public static void main(String[] args) {
Scanner in = new Scanner(System.in);
System.out.printf("Please enter the radius: ");
double radius = in.nextDouble();
double circumference = 2 * Math.PI * radius;
double area = Math.PI * Math.pow(radius, 2);
System.out.printf("The circumference is %.2f.%n", circumference);
System.out.printf("The area is %.2f.%n", area); }
Improved version, using printf.
Example Output:
Please enter the radius: 10
The circumference is
The area is