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(gnus)Formatting Basics

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Formatting Basics
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   Each `%' element will be replaced by some string or other when the
buffer in question is generated.  `%5y' means "insert the `y' spec, and
pad with spaces to get a 5-character field".

   As with normal C and Emacs Lisp formatting strings, the numerical
modifier between the `%' and the formatting type character will "pad"
the output so that it is always at least that long.  `%5y' will make
the field always (at least) five characters wide by padding with spaces
to the left.  If you say `%-5y', it will pad to the right instead.

   You may also wish to limit the length of the field to protect against
particularly wide values.  For that you can say `%4,6y', which means
that the field will never be more than 6 characters wide and never less
than 4 characters wide.