title: How can I left-align strings using String.format()?
body: <p>I'm using String.format() in Java trying to emulate the printf() control channel available in C. I understand how to specify that a string should be placed in a field which takes 20 characters, 5, 2 ... with 3 decimals, 2, etc.  However, the strings are printed right-aligned in their field.</p>
  
  <p>How do I left-align the strings?</p>
  
  <p>Here's an example of a possible output which I would like to modify to left-align <code>EXECUTING</code> and <code>CREATED</code> in their fields.</p>
  
  <pre><code>Process PID: 25    Status: -----------       EXECUTING
  Process PID: 36    Status: READY-SUSPENDED
  Process PID:  4    Status: ----------------        CREATED
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>*note: consider '-' as an empty space</p>