formatting tab with even size

Shell Programming and Scripting
1

I have a number of columns separated by tabs but the spacing between them are of different sizes. Is there any way of separating them with tab of even size?

Thank you.

2

you can format the output with printf.

echo 'x y' | awk '{printf "%s%16s\n", $1, $2}'
x               y
3

Sorry for asking something which may be obvious but what do %s and %16s mean?
Thank you.

4

those are formatting specifiers of printf.
google printf for more information.
%s is for string. %16s means prints the $2 as a string of 16 characters (right justified).

5

Have a read of Using printf Statements for Fancier Printing.