# Formatting and printing lists with Mathematica scripts

I'm just starting out with Mathematica and I'm using MathematicaScript rather than the GUI. However, I'm having trouble formatting a list when printing it.

Suppose I have a list and I want to print it using Column:

list = {a, b, c};
Print[Column[list]];


Calling this outputs Column[{a, b, c}] rather than

a
b
c


I suspect that this is because I'm running Mathematica in script mode. Is there anything I can do to display a list like this? How can I verify what the cause of my problem is from the documentation (I'm having trouble running the GUI)? The documentation doesn't say anything about Column only working in GUI mode.

I assume that the answer to getting a list (if there is one) to display as a column will explain how to do the same for a grid with 2D lists.

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On second thoughts, I'd rather it not be closed as a duplicate. Pls ignore the vtc. –  rm -rf Sep 2 '12 at 14:57

## 1 Answer

You can force the Column to display correctly in text-only script mode by passing it explicitly to OutputForm. For example:

#!/Applications/Mathematica.app/Contents/MacOS/MathematicaScript -script
list = {a, b, c};
Print[Column[list] // OutputForm];


gives the output you expect:

a
b
c

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Or, as mentioned here, execute SetOptions[\$Output, FormatType -> OutputForm]; before anything else... –  Ｊ. Ｍ. Sep 2 '12 at 14:24
Yes, OutputForm is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks to both of you! (I wish I could think of looking for something like OutputForm on my own...) –  highphi Sep 2 '12 at 14:45