A simple Python script that prints a table with nicely formatted columns

print_table.py

def printTable(table, first_row_is_header=True, spacing=4):
    # caluclate the number of columns
    cols = len(table[0])

    # calculate the max width for each column
    max_list = [None]*cols
    for i in xrange(cols):
        max_list[i] = max([len(str(x[i])) if i<len(x) else 0 for x in table])

    # calc row length for lines
    row_length = sum(max_list)+(cols*spacing)

    # create a row line for the table
    row_line = ' ' + '-'*row_length

    # print line at top of table
    print row_line

    # loop through each row in the table
    for index, row in enumerate(table):
        if first_row_is_header and index is 1:
            # row after header so 
            # print line
            print row_line

        # loop through each col and create row text
        row_text = '|'
        for i in xrange(cols):
            row_text += str(row[i]) + ' '*((max_list[i]+spacing)-len(str(row[i])))
        # and print 
        print row_text + '|'

    # print bottom row
    print row_line


if __name__ == '__main__':

    table = [
        ['first name', 'last name', 'company name', 'house no', 'address 1', 'postcode',],
        ['Aleshia', 'Tomkiewicz', 'Alan D Rosenburg Cpa Pc', 14, 'Taylor St','CT2 7PP'],
        ['Evan', 'Zigomalas', 'Cap Gemini America', 5, 'Binney St', 'P11 2AX'],
        ['France', 'Andrade', 'Elliott, John W Esq', 8, 'Moor Place', 'H6 3BE'],
        ['Ulysses', 'Mcwalters', 'Mcmahan, Ben L', 505, 'Exeter Rd', 'DN36 5RP'],
        ['Tyisha', 'Veness', 'Champagne Room', 5396, 'Forth Street', 'B70 9DT'],
        ['Eric', 'Rampy', 'Thompson, Michael C Esq', 9472, 'Lind St', 'NN14 2GH'],
        ['Marg', 'Grasmick', 'Wrangle Hill Auto Auct & Slvg', 7457, 'Cowl St', 'O14 3TY'],
        ['Laquita', 'Hisaw', 'In Communications Inc', 20, 'Gloucester Pl', 'E29 7AD'],
        ['Lura', 'Manzella', 'Bizerba Usa Inc', 929, 'Augustine St', 'BS16 4LL'],
        ['Yuette', 'Klapec', 'Max Video', 45, 'Bradfield St', 'DE6 1QN'],
        ['Fernanda', 'Writer', '', 620, 'Northampton St','DA2 7PP'],
        ['Charlesetta', 'Erm', 'Cain, John M Esq', 5, 'Hygeia St', 'S40 4LY'],
        ['Corrinne', 'Jaret', 'Sound Vision Corp', 2150, 'Morley St','DG8 7DE'],
        ['Niesha', 'Bruch', 'Rowley/hansell Petetin', 24, 'Bolton St', 'EH52 5TL'],
        ['Rueben', 'Gastellum', '', 4, 'Forrest St','BS23 3HG'],
        ['Michell', 'Throssell', 'Weiss Spirt & Guyer', 89, 'Noon St','P25 6JQ'],
    ]

    printTable(table=table)