how to get around "Single '}' encountered in format string" when using .format and formatting in printing

Question

I am currently trying to print a tabulated format (using left alignment and padding) for headings in a table however I keep getting the following error.

ValueError: Single '}' encountered in format string

Here's the line:

print("{0}:<15}{1}:<15}{2}:<8}".format("1", "2", "3"))

Required output is something along the lines of:

1              2              3        

I've tried duplicating the { } as advised here but received no luck.

I am probably missing something incredibly obvious however after staring at it for ages, I cannot see it. After all, what's the harm in asking?

Thanks

Answer 1

Works:

>>> print("{0}:<15}}{1}:<15}}{2}:<8}}".format("1", "2", "3"))
1:<15}2:<15}3:<8}

Edit: Now I understand you. Do this:

print("{0:<15}{1:<15}{2:<8}".format("1", "2", "3"))

Details: http://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-3101/

Answer 2

Use }}:

>>> "{0}:<15}}{1}:<15}}{2}:<8}}".format("1", "2", "3")
'1:<15}2:<15}3:<8}'

Answer 3

The { and } characters need to be escaped where they're not part of the formatting template.

Try: print("{0}:<15}}{1}:<15}}{2}:<8}}".format("1", "2", "3"))

Outputs: 1:<15}2:<15}3:<8}

Answer 4

You can also use Variables to do that. lenmax = the max number of space needed, and op = the var i want to format with (both vars need to be set first)

print(('{:>' + str(lenmax) + '}').format(op), end='\t\t')

Things to remember:

• Parenthesis can be used.
• you can't concat ints so the var on the string must be transformed.
• the end statement gives you Tab so you don't have linejumps

hope works for someone.