Convert Text to Nice Columns
Align whitespace-separated fields into neat padded columns. Runs entirely in your browser, so your data never leaves your device.
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Output
The result appears here as you type.
How to use Convert Text to Nice Columns
- 1. Paste whitespace-separated rows. Paste text where each line has fields separated by one or more spaces, such as a name and a number per row. Convert Text to Nice Columns reads every row's fields.
- 2. Set the Spaces between columns. Enter how many spaces you want separating each aligned column. A small value like 2 keeps the table compact, while a larger value gives columns more visual breathing room.
- 3. Copy the aligned table. Click copy on the output pane and paste the padded, aligned table into a README, a code comment or a monospace message where columns need to line up.
When to use Convert Text to Nice Columns
Convert Text to Nice Columns takes whitespace-separated fields and pads them so every column lines up vertically, the way the Unix column -t command formats terminal output. It turns ragged, unevenly spaced rows into a readable, aligned table.
- Formatting a plain-text README table. A README written in plain text rather than markdown needs its columns to line up without a table renderer. Pasting the raw rows here and copying the aligned result keeps everything readable in any editor.
- Aligning terminal command output. Output copied from a command that doesn't pad its columns, like a quick script's print statements, can be pasted here to instantly line up every field for a clean screenshot.
- Posting a table in a chat message. Slack and Discord code blocks render monospace text, so a hand-typed table needs manual alignment. Running the raw rows through this tool produces columns that actually line up in the chat.
- Cleaning up spreadsheet data pasted as text. Data copied from a spreadsheet as plain text often loses its column widths. Padding it here restores a readable, evenly spaced layout before pasting into a plain-text document.
Examples
Align a table
Input
name age Ada 36 Bob 7
Output
name age Ada 36 Bob 7
About the Convert Text to Nice Columns tool
Convert Text to Nice Columns does its work locally, right in the browser. Align whitespace-separated fields into neat padded columns. There is no upload step, no queue and no account, and your data never travels over the network.
It belongs to the Text Tools collection on EditSafely, a set of 211 small, focused Text utilities that share the same instant, private workspace.
You can shape the output with the Spaces between columns setting, and the result refreshes the moment you change it. A worked example further down the page shows exactly what the tool produces for a real input.
Running locally also makes the tool fast and dependable: results appear as you type or drop a file, there is no server outage that can take it down mid-task, and confidential data can be processed without a second thought.
Frequently asked questions
Does Convert Text to Nice Columns cost anything?
Yes, it is completely free. All 2,658 tools on EditSafely work without an account, a subscription or usage limits.
Is it safe to paste sensitive or confidential data?
No data leaves your device. The whole tool is JavaScript that runs inside your browser tab, so there is no upload, no server-side processing and no log of what you did. If you disconnect from the internet after the page loads, it keeps working.
How much text can I process at once?
There is no fixed limit. Because the work happens on your own device rather than on a shared server, the practical ceiling is your machine's memory, which comfortably handles inputs far larger than typical online tools allow.
Do I need to sign up or install anything?
Nothing to install and no account needed. Open the page in any up-to-date browser, including on a phone or tablet, and the tool is ready.
How do I use the result?
The output panel has a one-click copy button, and you can keep refining the input while you work; the result updates in place as you type.