How to create fixed width messages in Telegram bot using PHP

[Alex_Brave]

I’m building a Telegram bot using PHP and Laravel framework. I need to create messages that take up a complete line width, even when the text is short. For example, when I send “Hello!” I want it to span the entire message width with trailing spaces.

I tried using regular spaces but they get trimmed. Line breaks won’t work since they just move to the next line after “Hello!”. I also don’t want to use code formatting tags because they change the message appearance to look like programming code.

Is there a way to pad short messages with invisible characters or spaces to make them appear full-width in Telegram? What’s the best approach to achieve consistent message width without affecting the text formatting?

[RunningTiger]

Had this exact issue building customer service bots. Use Unicode non-breaking spaces (\u00A0) mixed with regular spaces - Telegram won’t trim these like normal spaces. In PHP, calculate your width and pad with str_pad($message, $width, “\u00A0”, STR_PAD_RIGHT) instead of regular spaces. I also had good luck with En Quad (\u2000) or Em Quad (\u2001) characters. They’re wider than normal spaces and Telegram keeps them. You’ll need to test different Unicode space characters to see what works consistently across devices. Make sure you test on both mobile and desktop clients since they render slightly differently.

[SoaringEagle]

honestly, just use monospace font with ``` backticks and fill with regular spaces - works every time. yeah it looks like code but at least it’s consistent width across all devices and you don’t have to mess with unicode stuff that breaks randomly.

[priya.in.pixels]

The Problem:

You’re having trouble creating full-width messages in your Telegram bot even when the text is short. Regular spaces are trimmed, line breaks create new lines, and you want to avoid code formatting tags to maintain the message’s visual appearance. You’re looking for a way to pad short messages with invisible characters or spaces to achieve consistent message width without affecting text formatting.

Understanding the “Why” (The Root Cause):

Telegram, like many messaging platforms, trims trailing whitespace from messages to optimize display. Regular spaces are considered whitespace and are removed. Line breaks force a new line, which is not the desired behavior. Code formatting tags change the message’s appearance, which you want to avoid. The solution lies in using special Unicode characters that are rendered as spaces but are not treated as trailing whitespace by Telegram.

Step-by-Step Guide:

Step 1: Use Unicode Non-Breaking Spaces:

The most effective solution is to use Unicode non-breaking spaces (\u00A0). These characters are displayed as spaces but are not trimmed by Telegram. You’ll need to programmatically add these spaces to your messages to fill them to the desired width.

Step 2: Calculate and Pad the Message (PHP Example):

The following PHP code demonstrates how to calculate the required padding and add non-breaking spaces using str_pad():

$message = "Hello!";
$desiredWidth = 50; // Adjust this to your desired width
$paddedMessage = str_pad($message, $desiredWidth, "\u00A0", STR_PAD_RIGHT);
// Send $paddedMessage to Telegram using your bot API

This code first defines the message and the desired width. Then, str_pad() adds non-breaking spaces (\u00A0) to the right side of the message until it reaches the $desiredWidth.

Step 3: Adapt for Your Framework:

Adapt the above code snippet to fit within your Laravel application’s message sending logic. You will likely need to integrate this padding step within your existing Telegram message sending function or controller.

Step 4: Test Across Devices:

Test your bot’s message rendering across different devices (mobile and desktop) and Telegram clients. While non-breaking spaces are generally reliable, minor inconsistencies might still occur across platforms.

Common Pitfalls & What to Check Next:

• Incorrect Character: Double-check that you’re using the correct Unicode character (\u00A0). A typo here will result in the code not functioning correctly.
• Width Calculation: Ensure your $desiredWidth accurately reflects the desired message width. Experiment with different values to find an optimal width consistent across devices.
• Alternative Unicode Characters: If you encounter inconsistencies, experiment with other Unicode space characters like En Quad (\u2000) or Em Quad (\u2001), which are wider than regular spaces.
• Framework-Specific Issues: If integrating this into your Laravel application presents unique challenges, consult Laravel’s documentation and community resources for assistance.

Still running into issues? Share your (sanitized) config files, the exact command you ran, and any other relevant details. The community is here to help!