Using Python's Format Specification Mini-Language to align floats

Question

I read that I can use Python\'s Format Specification Mini-Language to have more control over how strings are displayed. However, I am having a hard time figuring out how to

Answer 1

This does it:

import re

job_IDs = ['13453', '123', '563456']
memory_used = ['30', '150.54', '20.6']
memory_units = ['MB', 'GB', 'MB']

for i in range(len(job_IDs)):
    lh=re.match(r'(\d+)',memory_used[i]).group(1)
    if '.' in memory_used[i]:
        rh=re.match(r'(\d+)\.(\d+)',memory_used[i]).group(2)
        sep='.'
    else:
        rh=''    
        sep=' '


    my_str = "{item:15}{l:>6}{s:1}{r:6} {units:3}".format( 
    item='Job ' + job_IDs[i] + ':' , l=lh,s=sep,r=rh,units=memory_units[i])

    print my_str

To get your precise out put, you need to break the strings on the optional '.'

You could also convert those strings to floats.