Format output so file is readable

Question

Hi All.
SQL> select * from v$version;
BANNER
Oracle9i Enterprise Edition Release 9.2.0.4.0 - 64bit Production
PL/SQL Release 9.2.0.4.0 - Production
CORE 9.2.0.3.0 Production
TNS for Solaris: Version 9.2.0.4.0 - Production
NLSRTL Version 9.2.0.4.0 - Production
on
SunOS rcworaprd 5.9 Generic_112233-07 sun4u sparc SUNW,Sun-Fire-480R
I have a script that is running some sql to report free space in tablespaces. The output goes to a file and the formatting is great when I vi the file but once I email it the columns don't line up. I was wondering if there is an easy way to get everything lined up correctly:
Here is the sql I run:
sqlplus <<! > $SCRIPTHOME/shrink.tmp
/ as sysdba
set pagesize 100
set linesize 300
set verify off
column file_name format a50 word_wrapped
column currsize format 999,999,990 heading "Current|Size|(MB)"
column smallest format 999,999,990 heading "Smallest|Size|(MB)"
column savings format 999,999,990 heading "|Savings|(MB)"
break on report
compute sum label "TOTAL SPACE SAVED BY SHRINKING" of savings on report
column value new_val blksize
select value from v\$parameter where name = 'db_block_size'
select file_name,
ceil( blocks*&&blksize/1024/1024) currsize,
ceil( (nvl(hwm,1)*&&blksize)/1024/1024 ) smallest,
ceil( blocks*&&blksize/1024/1024) -
ceil( (nvl(hwm,1)*&&blksize)/1024/1024 ) savings
from dba_data_files a,
( select file_id, max(block_id+blocks-1) hwm
from dba_extents
group by file_id ) b
where a.file_id = b.file_id(+);
exit
Output in report file all lines up but don't line up in email (tabs are different etc...)
Any way to get this formatted?
Thanks
Jamie

Answer 1

Most likely it is an issue with the fonts that are being used for display. Typically, telnet or ssh applications use a fixed width font for display so all characters are the same size. Most Windows applications tend to use a proportional font by default, so different characters have different widths.
So, unless you can persuade all of the recepients to use a fixed width font in their email readers, you are likely out of luck.
John