Text Column Aligner

The Text Column Aligner takes messy, ragged lines of delimited text and pads them with spaces so a chosen character or symbol lines up perfectly down the page. It works like the Unix column -t command: each column is padded to the width of its widest cell, so everything reads cleanly in a monospace font. Configuration files, key–value lists, CSV rows, comment blocks, and hand-drawn tables all become instantly scannable.

How to use it

1. Paste your lines into the Input Text box.
2. Pick the character to align on under Align By — Equals (=), Colon (:), Comment (//), Arrow (=>), Mapping (->), Pipe (|), Comma (,), Semicolon (;), Tab, or the first space on each line. Choose Custom... to type any delimiter of your own (for example :: or :=).
3. Tune the options if needed, then copy or download the aligned result.

The output updates automatically as you type or change any setting.

Alignment options

• Align Every Occurrence — off by default, so each line splits only on the first delimiter, keeping everything after it as a single value (ideal for key = value config). Turn it on to split on every delimiter and align multi-column, table-style data (great for pipe- or comma-separated rows).
• Preserve Leading Indentation — keeps each line's original leading spaces or tabs, so nested or indented blocks stay indented while their delimiters still line up.
• Strip Trailing Whitespace — removes any spaces left at the end of a line after alignment, so you never ship invisible trailing whitespace.
• Spaces Before / After Delimiter — controls how much breathing room sits on each side of the aligned delimiter (defaults to one space on each side). Set them to taste, from 0 to 10.

Each cell is trimmed of its own surrounding spaces before alignment, so inconsistent input spacing is normalized automatically.

What does "Align Every Occurrence" actually change?

With it off, a = b = c is treated as a and b = c — only the first = aligns. With it on, that same line becomes three columns (a, b, c), and every = on every line lines up. Use the off mode for settings files and the on mode for delimited tables.

Does it change the order or content of my text?

No. It only adds or removes spaces around the delimiter and (optionally) at the end of lines. Words, values, punctuation, and line order are never touched. Lines that don't contain the delimiter are passed through unchanged.

Is my text uploaded anywhere?

No. All alignment happens locally in your browser — nothing is sent to a server, so it is safe to use with private configuration, credentials, or internal data.