[GH-ISSUE #850] padding getting ignored #620

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opened 2026-03-04 01:06:30 +03:00 by kerem · 1 comment

kerem commented

2026-03-04 01:06:30 +03:00

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Originally created by @tcurdt on GitHub (May 20, 2023).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/rivo/tview/issues/850

I am trying to create a horizontal flex but want to control the spacing between the components.

	d := tview.NewDropDown()
	d.SetFieldWidth(40)
	//d.SetBorderPadding(0, 0, 0, 1)

	a := tview.NewButton("1")
	//a.SetBorderPadding(0, 0, 1, 0)

	b := tview.NewButton("2")
	//b.SetBorderPadding(0, 0, 1, 0)

	layout := tview.NewFlex().
		SetDirection(tview.FlexColumn).
		AddItem(d, 0, 1, false).
		AddItem(a, 3, 0, false).
		AddItem(b, 3, 0, false)

This results in the following:
ddddddddddda1ab2b
but want I want is:
ddddddddd a1a b2b

I have experimented with with the flex item width and the various paddings but I somehow must be missing something.

What I ended up doing:

	layout := tview.NewFlex().
		SetDirection(tview.FlexColumn).
		AddItem(d, 0, 1, false).
		AddItem(nil, 1, 0, false).
		AddItem(a, 3, 0, false).
		AddItem(nil, 1, 0, false).
		AddItem(b, 3, 0, false)

Is that a horrible workaround or the intend way of using the API?

Originally created by @tcurdt on GitHub (May 20, 2023). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/rivo/tview/issues/850 I am trying to create a horizontal flex but want to control the spacing between the components. ``` d := tview.NewDropDown() d.SetFieldWidth(40) //d.SetBorderPadding(0, 0, 0, 1) a := tview.NewButton("1") //a.SetBorderPadding(0, 0, 1, 0) b := tview.NewButton("2") //b.SetBorderPadding(0, 0, 1, 0) layout := tview.NewFlex(). SetDirection(tview.FlexColumn). AddItem(d, 0, 1, false). AddItem(a, 3, 0, false). AddItem(b, 3, 0, false) ``` This results in the following: `ddddddddddda1ab2b` but want I want is: `ddddddddd a1a b2b` I have experimented with with the flex item width and the various paddings but I somehow must be missing something. What I ended up doing: ``` layout := tview.NewFlex(). SetDirection(tview.FlexColumn). AddItem(d, 0, 1, false). AddItem(nil, 1, 0, false). AddItem(a, 3, 0, false). AddItem(nil, 1, 0, false). AddItem(b, 3, 0, false) ``` Is that a horrible workaround or the intend way of using the API?

kerem closed this issue

2026-03-04 01:06:30 +03:00

kerem commented

2026-03-04 01:06:31 +03:00

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@rivo commented on GitHub (Jun 18, 2023):

No, this is not a horrible workaround. Flex doesn't have a built-in way to add spacing between items. So adding a nil item is perfectly fine and it will give you precise control over how much spacing you want to add.

Alternatively, you could use Grid with one row and define extra columns where you don't place any elements.

The "border padding" you tried to add before only affects the inside of a primitive. It's the space between the primitive's content and its border (if there is one).

@rivo commented on GitHub (Jun 18, 2023): No, this is not a horrible workaround. `Flex` doesn't have a built-in way to add spacing between items. So adding a `nil` item is perfectly fine and it will give you precise control over how much spacing you want to add. Alternatively, you could use `Grid` with one row and define extra columns where you don't place any elements. The "border padding" you tried to add before only affects the inside of a primitive. It's the space between the primitive's content and its border (if there is one).