Tab format/size in JTextArea not working

Question

Howdy, I am writing a program that uses Runtime.exec() method, I get the error stream from the new process, etc... all that works fine, but as I use append(String s) where s = StreamOutput+"\n";, the output is not formatted in the JTextArea. However, if I do System.out.println(s), the output is perfectly lined up.
I recall reading somewhere about setting the tab size or something or other about a similar problem, but now cannot find the answer in the forums or the docs. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Brian

Answer 1

here is the chunk of code in question:
String[] commandLine = {profile.getCompilerPath(),filePath};
               Process p = rt.exec(commandLine);
               BufferedReader reader = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(p.getErrorStream()));
               String s = reader.readLine();
              while(s!=null)
                    writer.write(s2.toString());
                    System.out.println(s);
                    s = reader.readLine();
               writer.write(null);writer is an instance of an innner calss of the gui, and its only method is write(String s). write does this: txtAreaOutput.append("\n" + s); if s !=null. having messed with tab sizes etc to no avail, I am at a loss. the output I am trying to capture is from the javac.exe compiler, imagine that! and the little carats that point to the errors don't line up with the code in the JTextArea. what's worst, notice the call to System.out.println(s) after the call to writer. this was to check to see that the output was coming out right, and there it is PERFECT!!! ahhhh. Please help if you can.
Is there an issue that the JTextArea is not using a monospaced font, and if so, how do I fix that, or is there some other component with similar funcitonality that will work? Thank you for your time and mental sweat.. I am at my wit's end here :(