Change how Truncation works

.github/actions/spelling/expect.txt

@@ -561,6 +561,7 @@ swgus
 SYD
 SYG
 systemnotsupported
+tableoutput
 Tagit
 TARG
 taskhostw

doc/ReleaseNotes.md

@@ -47,6 +47,11 @@ The WinGet MCP server's existing tools have been extended with new parameters to
 
 The PowerShell module now automatically uses `GH_TOKEN` or `GITHUB_TOKEN` environment variables to authenticate GitHub API requests. This significantly increases the GitHub API rate limit, preventing failures in CI/CD pipelines. Use `-Verbose` to see which token is being used.
 
+### Improved `list` output when redirected
+
+- `winget list` (and similar table commands) no longer truncates output when stdout is redirected to a file or variable — column widths are now computed from the full result set.
+- Spinner and progress bar output are suppressed when no console is attached, keeping redirected output clean.
+
 ## Bug Fixes
 
 * Fixed the `useLatest` property in the DSC v3 `Microsoft.WinGet/Package` resource schema to emit a boolean default (`false`) instead of the incorrect string `"false"`.

src/AppInstallerCLICore/ChannelStreams.cpp

@@ -8,16 +8,31 @@ namespace AppInstaller::CLI::Execution
 {
     using namespace VirtualTerminal;
 
-    size_t GetConsoleWidth()
+#ifndef AICLI_DISABLE_TEST_HOOKS
+    static std::optional<size_t>* s_consoleWidthOverride = nullptr;
+
+    void TestHook_SetConsoleWidth_Override(std::optional<size_t>* value)
+    {
+        s_consoleWidthOverride = value;
+    }
+#endif
+
+    std::optional<size_t> GetConsoleWidth()
     {
+#ifndef AICLI_DISABLE_TEST_HOOKS
+        if (s_consoleWidthOverride)
+        {
+            return *s_consoleWidthOverride;
+        }
+#endif
         CONSOLE_SCREEN_BUFFER_INFO consoleInfo{};
         if (GetConsoleScreenBufferInfo(GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE), &consoleInfo))
         {
             return static_cast<size_t>(consoleInfo.dwSize.X);
         }
         else
         {
-            return 120;
+            return std::nullopt;
         }
     }
 

src/AppInstallerCLICore/ChannelStreams.h

@@ -5,14 +5,23 @@
 #include "VTSupport.h"
 #include <winget/LocIndependent.h>
 
+#include <optional>
 #include <ostream>
 #include <string>
 
 
 namespace AppInstaller::CLI::Execution
 {
-    // Gets the current console width.
-    size_t GetConsoleWidth();
+    // Gets the current console width, or std::nullopt if stdout is not attached to a console
+    // (e.g. redirected to a file or pipe). Callers that receive nullopt should not truncate output.
+    std::optional<size_t> GetConsoleWidth();
+
+#ifndef AICLI_DISABLE_TEST_HOOKS
+    // Overrides the value returned by GetConsoleWidth(). Pass nullptr to remove the override.
+    // Pass a pointer to std::nullopt to simulate no console; pass a pointer to a value to
+    // simulate a console of that width.
+    void TestHook_SetConsoleWidth_Override(std::optional<size_t>* value);
+#endif
 
     // The base stream for all channels.
     struct BaseStream

src/AppInstallerCLICore/ExecutionProgress.cpp

@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ namespace AppInstaller::CLI::Execution
             }
             else
             {
-                m_out << '\r' << std::string(GetConsoleWidth(), ' ') << '\r';
+                m_out << '\r' << std::string(GetConsoleWidth().value_or(0), ' ') << '\r';
             }
         }
 

src/AppInstallerCLICore/ExecutionReporter.cpp

@@ -56,9 +56,15 @@ namespace AppInstaller::CLI::Execution
         m_out(outStream),
         m_in(inStream)
     {
-        auto sixelSupported = [&]() { return SixelsSupported(); };
-        m_spinner = IIndefiniteSpinner::CreateForStyle(*m_out, ConsoleModeRestore::Instance().IsVTEnabled(), VisualStyle::Accent, sixelSupported);
-        m_progressBar = IProgressBar::CreateForStyle(*m_out, ConsoleModeRestore::Instance().IsVTEnabled(), VisualStyle::Accent, sixelSupported);
+        // Only create spinner and progress bar when stdout is attached to a console.
+        // When output is redirected to a file or pipe, suppress all progress output
+        // so it does not appear in the redirected stream.
+        if (GetConsoleWidth().has_value())
+        {
+            auto sixelSupported = [&]() { return SixelsSupported(); };
+            m_spinner = IIndefiniteSpinner::CreateForStyle(*m_out, ConsoleModeRestore::Instance().IsVTEnabled(), VisualStyle::Accent, sixelSupported);
+            m_progressBar = IProgressBar::CreateForStyle(*m_out, ConsoleModeRestore::Instance().IsVTEnabled(), VisualStyle::Accent, sixelSupported);
+        }
 
         SetProgressSink(this);
     }
@@ -146,7 +152,7 @@ namespace AppInstaller::CLI::Execution
     {
         m_style = style;
 
-        if (m_channel == Channel::Output)
+        if (m_channel == Channel::Output && GetConsoleWidth().has_value())
         {
             auto sixelSupported = [&]() { return SixelsSupported(); };
             m_spinner = IIndefiniteSpinner::CreateForStyle(*m_out, ConsoleModeRestore::Instance().IsVTEnabled(), style, sixelSupported);

src/AppInstallerCLICore/TableOutput.h

@@ -20,8 +20,9 @@ namespace AppInstaller::CLI::Execution
         using header_t = std::array<Resource::LocString, FieldCount>;
         using line_t = std::array<std::string, FieldCount>;
 
-        TableOutput(Reporter& reporter, header_t&& header, size_t sizingBuffer = 50) :
-            m_reporter(reporter), m_sizingBuffer(sizingBuffer)
+        TableOutput(Reporter& reporter, header_t&& header) :
+            m_reporter(reporter),
+            m_hasConsole(GetConsoleWidth().has_value())
         {
             for (size_t i = 0; i < FieldCount; ++i)
             {
@@ -35,15 +36,11 @@ namespace AppInstaller::CLI::Execution
         {
             m_empty = false;
 
-            if (m_buffer.size() < m_sizingBuffer)
-            {
-                m_buffer.emplace_back(std::move(line));
-            }
-            else
-            {
-                EvaluateAndFlushBuffer();
-                OutputLineToStream(line);
-            }
+            // Always buffer every row so that column widths are computed from the full dataset
+            // before any output is written. This guarantees that the widest value in any column
+            // is always fully visible and columns are perfectly aligned, whether output goes to
+            // a console or is redirected. Complete() triggers the actual output.
+            m_buffer.emplace_back(std::move(line));
         }
 
         void Complete()
@@ -71,10 +68,10 @@ namespace AppInstaller::CLI::Execution
 
         Reporter& m_reporter;
         std::array<Column, FieldCount> m_columns;
-        size_t m_sizingBuffer;
         std::vector<line_t> m_buffer;
         bool m_bufferEvaluated = false;
         bool m_empty = true;
+        bool m_hasConsole = false;
 
         void EvaluateAndFlushBuffer()
         {
@@ -127,13 +124,14 @@ namespace AppInstaller::CLI::Execution
                 totalRequired += m_columns[i].MaxLength + (m_columns[i].SpaceAfter ? 1 : 0);
             }
 
-            size_t consoleWidth = GetConsoleWidth();
+            auto consoleWidthOpt = GetConsoleWidth();
 
-            // If the total space would be too big, shrink them.
-            // We don't want to use the last column, lest we auto-wrap
-            if (totalRequired >= consoleWidth)
+            // If there is a console and the total space would be too big, shrink columns.
+            // We don't want to use the last column, lest we auto-wrap.
+            // When there is no console (e.g. output redirected to a file), skip truncation entirely.
+            if (consoleWidthOpt && totalRequired >= *consoleWidthOpt)
             {
-                size_t extra = (totalRequired - consoleWidth) + 1;
+                size_t extra = (totalRequired - *consoleWidthOpt) + 1;
 
                 while (extra)
                 {
@@ -151,7 +149,7 @@ namespace AppInstaller::CLI::Execution
                     extra -= 1;
                 }
 
-                totalRequired = consoleWidth - 1;
+                totalRequired = *consoleWidthOpt - 1;
             }
 
             // Header line

src/AppInstallerCLICore/Workflows/ConfigurationFlow.cpp

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 #include <winget/SelfManagement.h>
 #include <winget/PathTree.h>
 #include <winrt/Microsoft.Management.Configuration.h>
+#include <limits>
 
 using namespace AppInstaller::CLI::Execution;
 using namespace winrt::Microsoft::Management::Configuration;
@@ -356,7 +357,7 @@ namespace AppInstaller::CLI::Workflow
                     truncated = true;
                 }
 
-                if (Utility::LimitOutputLines(lines, GetConsoleWidth(), maxLines))
+                if (Utility::LimitOutputLines(lines, GetConsoleWidth().value_or(std::numeric_limits<size_t>::max()), maxLines))
                 {
                     truncated = true;
                 }
@@ -767,7 +768,7 @@ namespace AppInstaller::CLI::Workflow
             if (messageData.ShowDescription && !description.empty())
             {
                 constexpr size_t maximumDescriptionLines = 3;
-                size_t consoleWidth = GetConsoleWidth();
+                size_t consoleWidth = GetConsoleWidth().value_or(std::numeric_limits<size_t>::max());
                 std::vector<std::string> lines = Utility::SplitIntoLines(description, maximumDescriptionLines + 1);
                 bool wasLimited = Utility::LimitOutputLines(lines, consoleWidth, maximumDescriptionLines);
 

src/AppInstallerCLICore/Workflows/WorkflowBase.cpp

@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ namespace AppInstaller::CLI::Workflow
         {
             // Using a height of 4 arbitrarily; allow width up to the entire console.
             UINT imageHeightCells = 4;
-            UINT imageWidthCells = static_cast<UINT>(Execution::GetConsoleWidth());
+            UINT imageWidthCells = static_cast<UINT>(Execution::GetConsoleWidth().value_or(120));
 
             icon.RenderSizeInCells(imageWidthCells, imageHeightCells);
             icon.RenderTo(outputStream);

src/AppInstallerCLITests/AppInstallerCLITests.vcxproj

@@ -326,6 +326,7 @@
     <ClCompile Include="SQLiteIndex.cpp" />
     <ClCompile Include="SQLiteWrapper.cpp" />
     <ClCompile Include="Synchronization.cpp" />
+    <ClCompile Include="TableOutput.cpp" />
     <ClCompile Include="TestCommon.cpp" />
     <ClCompile Include="WorkflowCommon.cpp" />
     <ClCompile Include="WorkflowGroupPolicy.cpp" />

src/AppInstallerCLITests/AppInstallerCLITests.vcxproj.filters

@@ -230,6 +230,9 @@
     <ClCompile Include="Synchronization.cpp">
       <Filter>Source Files\Common</Filter>
     </ClCompile>
+    <ClCompile Include="TableOutput.cpp">
+      <Filter>Source Files\Common</Filter>
+    </ClCompile>
     <ClCompile Include="TestRestRequestHandler.cpp">
       <Filter>Source Files</Filter>
     </ClCompile>