IndNet

A thin wrapper around StringBuilder to aid in indenting new lines when string building.

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Configuration

Default constructor

var isb = new IndentedStringBuilder(indentationChar: '\t', startingIndentationLevel: 0, indentSize: 1, stringBuilder: null);

indentationChar

• Defaults to \t
• Optionally change the character used for indentation

startingIndentationLevel

• Defaults to 0
• Optionally change the starting indentation level

indentSize

• Defaults to 1
• Optionally change how many characters are used for each indentation level

stringBuilder

• Defaults to null
• Optionally provide a pre-configured StringBuilder

Example(s)

Using the IndentedStringBuilder is as easy as using the native StringBuilder, and exposes many of the same methods with the addition of the following:

IncrementIndentation(int amount = 1)

This method is used for incrementing the indentation of subsequently appended lines:

var isb = new IndentedStringBuilder();

var s = isb.AppendLine("Line 1")
            .IncrementIndentation()
            .AppendLine("Line 2")
            .ToString();

Console.WriteLine(s);

which would write the following to console:

Line 1
    Line 2

DecrementIndentation(int amount = 1)

This method is used for incrementing the indentation of subsequently appended lines:

var isb = new IndentedStringBuilder();

var s = isb.AppendLine("Line 1")
            .IncrementIndentation()
            .AppendLine("Line 2")
            .DecrementIndentation()
            .AppendLine("Line 3")
            .ToString();

Console.WriteLine(s);

which would write the following to console:

Line 1
    Line 2
Line 3

AppendLine(string? value)

Ok, StringBuilder has this too but in IndentedStringBuilder this behaves a bit differently. If you read the examples for IncrementIndentation and DecrementIndentation you'll see that in addition to appending new lines, it does so with respect to the current indentation of the IndentedStringBuilder (so have a look there for some usage examples).

AppendLines(int amount = 1)

This method wraps StringBuilder.AppendLine() allowing for you to append multiple blank lines from a single method call.

AppendLines(IEnumerable values)

This method wraps AppendLine(string? value) allowing you to provide multiple strings and have them appended as new lines with respect to the current indentation level:

var isb = new IndentedStringBuilder();

var s = isb.AppendLine("Line 1")
            .IncrementIndentation()
            .AppendLines(new [] {"Line 2", "Line 3"})
            .ToString();

Console.WriteLine(s);

which would write the following to console:

Line 1
    Line 2
    Line 3

AppendBlock(Action action)

This serves as a 'convenience' allowing another method to append to the builder whilst maintaining your call chaining:

var isb = new IndentedStringBuilder();

// can be a anonymous method, local method, class method, or other - this is just an example
Action<IIndentedStringBuilder> action = builder => { builder.AppendLines(new[] { "1", "2", "3" }); };

var s = isb.AppendLine("Line 1")
            .IncrementIndentation()
            .AppendBlock(action)
            .AppendLines(new [] {"Line 2", "Line 3"})
            .ToString();

Console.WriteLine(s);

which would write the following to console:

Line 1
    1
    2
    3
    Line 2
    Line 3

AppendIndentedBlock(Action action)

Similar to AppendBlock(Action<IIndentedStringBuilder> action), this serves as a 'convenience' allowing another method to append to the builder whilst maintaining your call chaining, however this automatically increments and then decrements around the lines appended by the provided action:

var isb = new IndentedStringBuilder();

// can be a anonymous method, local method, class method, or other - this is just an example
Action<IIndentedStringBuilder> action = builder => { builder.AppendLines(new[] { "1", "2", "3" }); };

var s = isb.AppendLine("Line 1")
            .AppendIndentedBlock(action)
            .AppendLines(new [] {"Line 2", "Line 3"})
            .ToString();

Console.WriteLine(s);

which would write the following to console:

Line 1
    1
    2
    3
Line 2
Line 3

IndentAndAppendLines(IEnumerable values)

Similar to AppendBlock(Action<IIndentedStringBuilder> action), however this allows you to provide strings that you wish to both indent and append as new lines:

var isb = new IndentedStringBuilder();


var s = isb.AppendLine("Line 1")
            .IndentAndAppendLines(new[] { "1", "2", "3" }))
            .AppendLines(new [] {"Line 2", "Line 3"})
            .ToString();

Console.WriteLine(s);

which would write the following to console:

Line 1
    1
    2
    3
Line 2
Line 3