Preserving whitespace / indentation in Rails database column -

i have blocks of pseudo-code text stored in database printed off line-by-line , displayed in html.

pseudo-code entered in text column in database:

while (counter <= 10) {   printf("enter grade: ");   scanf("%d", &grade);   total = total + grade;   counter = counter + 1; } /* end while */ 

controller:

def index     @code = code.first // filler time being end 

index:

- @code.cont.each_line |line|     - += 1     .line         %span=         %li.line= line - = 0 

somewhere along way ruby automatically strips out whitespace , leaves me text. i'd know how preserve

this:

while (counter <= 10) {   printf("enter grade: ");   scanf("%d", &grade);   total = total + grade;   counter = counter + 1; } /* end while */ 

doesn't come out this:

while (counter <=  printf("enter grade: "); scanf("%d", &grade); total = total + grade; counter = counter + 1; } /* end while */ 

i'm pretty sure space characters there, can't see them due way html handles whitespace. double check putting text variable , dumping console simple puts my_chunk_of_text. if spaces there (and can't see why wouldn't be, based on code posted), have couple of alternatives:

1) sandwich displayed text <pre> tag, renders preformatted text. you're going want in view, this:

<pre><%= @my_chunk_of_text %></pre> 

2) save text in html format, non-breaking spaces ( ) wherever want space appear, , <br> need newline. code can rendered in view html_safe helper.

<%= @my_chunk_of_text.html_safe %>