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About the INI Formatter Online INI Beautifier

Want cleaner, readable INI files? This tool formats your `.ini`, `.cfg` and `.conf` files using an INI-aware Prettier engine. Normalize spacing around `=`, keep comments, control indentation, and optionally enforce consistent line endings so your config files stay tidy, version-ready and easy to review.

Key Features of the INI Formatter

  • Normalize spacing around `=` so keys and values are consistently readable within each section
  • Keep sections, keys and comments in place while trimming unnecessary trailing spaces
  • Configure indent size (spaces) and choose between spaces or tabs for indentation style
  • Control end-of-line style (LF or CRLF) to avoid noisy cross-platform diffs
  • Drag & drop support for `.ini`, `.cfg` and `.conf` files, plus direct paste into the editor
  • Instant formatting powered by an INI-aware Prettier engine, with a server fallback when needed
  • Preserves comments and blank lines so your documentation and visual grouping stay intact

🔧 How to Use the INI Formatter for ini-formatter

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1. Paste or Upload Your Config

Paste your INI content into the editor or drag-and-drop a `.ini`, `.cfg` or `.conf` file. Sections like `[core]`, `[user]` and standard `key = value` pairs are all supported.

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2. Adjust Formatting Options

Customize indent size, choose spaces or tabs for indentation, and select the output line ending (LF or CRLF) to match your project or platform conventions.

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3. Copy or Download the Result

Review the formatted output in the preview pane, then copy it back into your editor or download the cleaned file and commit it to version control.

Technical Specifications

Supported File Types

The formatter targets classic INI-style configuration formats commonly used on Windows, Linux and in various applications.

ExtensionDescription
.iniClassic Windows-style INI files with `[section]` headers and `key = value` pairs
.cfgGeneral configuration files using INI-like syntax
.confUnix/Linux-style configuration files that follow INI-ish conventions

Available Options (UI)

The options exposed in the interface map directly to the underlying Prettier / formatter settings:

OptionDescription
Indent styleChoose between spaces or tabs for indentation
Indent sizeNumber of spaces per indentation level when using spaces
End of lineControl line endings (LF `\n` or CRLF `\r\n`) for cross-platform consistency

Formatting Rules (INI-Aware)

The formatter uses an INI-aware Prettier plugin and is designed to preserve the structure of your configuration:

AspectBehaviorNotes
Sections[section] headers kept as-isWhitespace around section names is normalized (e.g., `[ user ]` → `[user]`)
Keys & values`key = value` normalizedEnsures consistent spacing around `=` while keeping the original key/value text
CommentsLines starting with `;` or `#` preservedComment position is kept where possible to maintain documentation
Blank linesPreserved between sectionsHelps maintain visual grouping while removing superfluous trailing spaces
EncodingUTF-8 expectedExotic encodings may need conversion before formatting

Errors & Edge Cases

INI is loosely specified and real-world files sometimes push the boundaries. When the formatter struggles, it typically fails fast with an error:

SymptomLikely causeWhat to check
Unexpected error messageNon-INI-like structure or mixed formatsEnsure the file is mostly `[section]` + `key = value` style
Truncated / odd outputEmbedded binary or unusual control charactersStrip binary blobs or export those to a different format
Comment movementAggressive normalization in edge casesVerify positioning around heavy comment blocks or unusual delimiters

Command Line Alternatives

Prefer CLI tools or want to keep everything local? Here are a few building blocks you can adapt.

Python

Parse and re-emit INI with configparser (basic)

python - << 'PY'
import configparser, sys
config = configparser.ConfigParser()
config.read('input.ini', encoding='utf-8')
with open('formatted.ini', 'w', encoding='utf-8') as f:
    config.write(f)
PY

Uses Python’s built-in configparser to read and write sections and keys. Note: comments and ordering may not be preserved.

Unix/Linux

Very rough equal sign alignment with awk

awk -F '=' 'NF==2 { printf "%-24s = %s\n", $1, $2; next } { print }' input.ini > aligned.ini

Simple column-style alignment for `key = value` lines; comments and complex values may need manual review.

Common Use Cases

System Administration

  • Cleaning up Linux `.conf` files before committing them to infrastructure repos
  • Tidying desktop application `.ini` / `.cfg` files for easier troubleshooting
[network]
ip = 192.168.0.1
mask = 255.255.255.0
gateway = 192.168.0.254

Software Development

  • Maintaining environment-specific INI configs for apps or test harnesses
  • Keeping INI-based feature flags and build settings readable in version control
[build]
target = production
optimize = true
log_level = info

Documentation & Support

  • Creating clean INI examples for README files and wikis
  • Sharing minimal, well-formatted repro configs with support or colleagues

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

🔁Will the formatter change key/value logic?

No. The formatter only adjusts layout: spacing, indentation and line endings. Keys, values, sections and their relationships are preserved as text, assuming the input is valid INI.

🧵What happens to equal signs?

The tool normalizes spaces around `=` so `key=value`, `key = value` and `key = value` all become a consistent `key = value`. This makes configuration easier to scan and diff.

📦Can I use this on large config files?

Yes, within reasonable limits. The UI accepts files up to about 5 MB and the formatter has an internal limit of roughly 2 million characters to stay responsive in typical browsers.

🔒Is everything processed in my browser?

The formatter is primarily powered by an INI-aware Prettier engine running in your browser. If that engine or plugin is unavailable, the tool may fall back to a secure backend formatter. For highly sensitive or private configs, you should prefer local CLI or editor-based tools.

🧾Does it validate INI syntax?

It focuses on formatting rather than full validation. Many malformed files will still format, but deeply broken structure or non-INI content may produce errors or unexpected output.

Pro Tips

Best Practice

Run the formatter before committing `.ini` files so diffs only show real configuration changes, not spacing noise.

Best Practice

Prefer spaces over tabs in INI files unless a specific tool requires tabs—spaces are more consistent across platforms and editors.

Best Practice

Keep one canonical style for all INI configs in a repo; mixing styles across services makes reviews and troubleshooting harder.

Best Practice

If your project uses both INI and YAML/JSON, apply dedicated formatters to each so configuration style stays consistent across formats.

Additional Resources

INI File Format (Wikipedia)
Documentation
Python configparser Documentation
Documentation
GitHub: INI Parsers Collection
Documentation
Prettier – Opinionated Code Formatter
Documentation

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