topic Re: Field Calculator Help How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length in Python Questions

Field Calculator Help How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

JonM32 — Thu, 01 May 2025 15:11:41 GMT

Hi Everyone,

I'm trying to create a nice road index for a map. One that looks like the screenshot below. However, I can't figure out how to create the index so that my road name listed has periods filling in the remaining space before the index cell is listed.

So far, I found some examples of python to use but nothing specific to how to enter it into the field calculator in ArcGIS Pro. The table shows my two fields, one with the street name, the other with the index cell it falls in on my map.

Any help is appreciated!

Re: Field Calculator Help How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

ClayDonaldsonSWCA — Thu, 01 May 2025 15:26:51 GMT

this is a perfect use case for f-strings. fstring.help: Python f-string guide

f"{!ALLROADNAM!:.<10}"
examples:
f"{'Done':.<12}" # Done.........
f"{123:.>8}" # .....123
f"{'Middle':.^10}" # ..Middle..

Re: Field Calculator Help How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

TonyAlmeida — Thu, 01 May 2025 15:37:47 GMT

try,

format_index(!Field1Cal!, !IndexCell!)

def format_index(name, index, total_length=5): #change total_length name = name.strip() index = index.strip() dot_fill = '.' * max(1, total_length - len(name) - len(index)) return f"{name}{dot_fill}{index}"

Re: Field Calculator Help How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

JonM32 — Thu, 01 May 2025 15:50:54 GMT

@ClayDonaldsonSWCA Below is what I'm running into with the f-strings. Likely I'm entering it incorrectly, any idea whats going on?

Re: Field Calculator Help How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

JonM32 — Thu, 01 May 2025 15:52:58 GMT

@TonyAlmeida I tried your suggestion and am running into the issue below. Any idea what is going on? I did change the first part before the code block to match my field names.

Re: Field Calculator Help How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

TonyAlmeida — Thu, 01 May 2025 15:59:52 GMT

You probably have nulls, spaces and number and text.

try this,

def format_index(name, index, total_length=5): # Change to your data name = str(name).strip() # String and strip whitespace index = str(index).strip() # String and strip whitespace available_space = max(1, total_length - len(name) - len(index)) dot_fill = '.' * available_space return f"{name}{dot_fill}{index}"

Re: Field Calculator Help How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

JonM32 — Thu, 01 May 2025 16:11:41 GMT

@TonyAlmeida I'm so close! It was able to run in the field calculator - but now I'd like to get dots to even out so the index values are all aligned together. Similar to the first screenshot above. Below is what I have, is there a way to align the index values?

I really appreciate your help!

Re: Field Calculator Help How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

AustinAverill — Thu, 01 May 2025 16:12:39 GMT

The expression is evaluating your field to include double quotes, and is therefore conflicting with your syntax. Change the code in your field calc to use single quotes instead of the double quotes will resolve the error: f'{!ALLROADNAM!:.<10}'

Re: Field Calculator Help How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

TonyAlmeida — Thu, 01 May 2025 16:20:08 GMT

try,

.ljust(total_length) # this should make sure the output string is exactly 50 characters wide

def format_index(name, index, total_length=50): name = str(name).strip() if name else "Unknown" index = str(index).strip() if index else "--" available_space = max(1, total_length - len(name) - len(index)) dot_fill = '.' * available_space return f"{name}{dot_fill}{index}".ljust(total_length) format_index(!Field1Cal!, !IndexCell!)

Re: Field Calculator Help How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

ChrisUnderwood — Thu, 01 May 2025 16:32:20 GMT

Hello @JonM32 , something like this will work in the Field Calculator without a Code Block if you prefer.

!COUNTRY!+("..............."[:(15-(len(!COUNTRY!)))])+str(!MYINT!)

Re: Field Calculator Help How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

JonM32 — Thu, 01 May 2025 18:14:24 GMT

@TonyAlmeida Unless I entered it incorrectly, I keep having errors pop up when trying to run it.

Re: Field Calculator Help How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

JonM32 — Thu, 01 May 2025 18:15:51 GMT

@ChrisUnderwood This worked, but the result is the same as above where I get uneven columns. The first screenshot in my initial post is my goal. I'd like to have the road names listed, and then have dots until the index cell is listed, but have them all line up together. Hopefully this makes sense!

Re: Field Calculator Help How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

DanPatterson — Thu, 01 May 2025 18:34:21 GMT

perhaps a monospaced font would have to be specified, which is probably an unlikely case for field calculations.

Re: Field Calculator Help How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

JonM32 — Thu, 01 May 2025 19:14:36 GMT

Success! So, the solution is from both @TonyAlmeida and @DanPatterson

Below are screenshots of the results and field calculator expression used.

The expression allowed for me to set a number for how many dots I'd like with the remaining space in a given text field. After running it, I still had alignment issues. However, I switch to a monospaced font (Courier New) and everything aligned perfectly! I plan to use this to create the final road index I'm making for a street map.

Thank you everyone for your help!

Jon

topic Re: ***Field Calculator Help*** How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length in Python Questions

***Field Calculator Help*** How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

Re: ***Field Calculator Help*** How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

Re: ***Field Calculator Help*** How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

Re: ***Field Calculator Help*** How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

Re: ***Field Calculator Help*** How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

Re: ***Field Calculator Help*** How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

Re: ***Field Calculator Help*** How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

Re: ***Field Calculator Help*** How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

Re: ***Field Calculator Help*** How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

Re: ***Field Calculator Help*** How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

Re: ***Field Calculator Help*** How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

Re: ***Field Calculator Help*** How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

Re: ***Field Calculator Help*** How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

Re: ***Field Calculator Help*** How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

topic Re: Field Calculator Help How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length in Python Questions

Field Calculator Help How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

Re: Field Calculator Help How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

Re: Field Calculator Help How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

Re: Field Calculator Help How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

Re: Field Calculator Help How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

Re: Field Calculator Help How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

Re: Field Calculator Help How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

Re: Field Calculator Help How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

Re: Field Calculator Help How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

Re: Field Calculator Help How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

Re: Field Calculator Help How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

Re: Field Calculator Help How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

Re: Field Calculator Help How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length

Re: Field Calculator Help How to pad a string with periods to fit remaining field length