def space_row(left, right, filler=' ', total_width=-1):
    """space the data in a row with optional filling

    Arguments
    ---------
    left : str, to be aligned left
    right : str, to be aligned right
    filler : str, default ' '.
        must be of length 1
    total_width : int, width of line.
        if negative number is specified,
        then that number of spaces is used between the left and right text

    Returns
    -------
    str
    """
    left = str(left)
    right = str(right)
    filler = str(filler)[:1]

    if total_width < 0:
        spacing = - total_width
    else:
        spacing = total_width - len(left) - len(right)

    return left + filler * spacing + right