diff --git a/lib/slither/column.rb b/lib/slither/column.rb
index 3ebe9b9..dccc016 100644
--- a/lib/slither/column.rb
+++ b/lib/slither/column.rb
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ def initialize(name, length, options = {})
       @type = options[:type] || :string
       @padding = options[:padding] || :space
       @truncate = options[:truncate] || false
+      @default = options[:default]
       # Only used with floats, this determines the decimal places
       @precision = options[:precision]
     end
@@ -44,7 +45,7 @@ def parse(value)
     end
 
     def format(value)
-      pad(formatter % to_s(value))
+      pad(version_secure_format(value))
     rescue
       puts "Could not format column '#{@name}' as a '#{@type}' with formatter '#{formatter}' and value of '#{value}' (formatted: '#{to_s(value)}'). #{$!}"
     end
@@ -58,6 +59,22 @@ def formatter
       def aligner
         @alignment == :left ? '-' : ''
       end
+      
+      def version_secure_format(value)
+        if RUBY_VERSION < "1.9" && defined?(ActiveSupport)
+          parsed_value(value).mb_chars.send(alignment_secure_method,sizer)
+        else
+          formatter % parsed_value(value)
+        end
+      end
+      
+      def alignment_secure_method
+        @alignment == :left ? :ljust : :rjust; 
+      end
+      
+      def parsed_value(value)
+        value.nil? && @default.present? ? to_s(@default) : to_s(value)
+      end
 
       def sizer
         (@type == :float && @precision) ? @precision : @length
diff --git a/lib/slither/generator.rb b/lib/slither/generator.rb
index a2a54bb..2d6afb2 100644
--- a/lib/slither/generator.rb
+++ b/lib/slither/generator.rb
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@ def generate(data)
   	      raise(Slither::RequiredSectionEmptyError, "Required section '#{section.name}' was empty.") unless section.optional
 	      end
 	    end
-	    @builder.join("\n")
+	    @builder.join(@definition.options[:new_line] || "\n")
 		end
 		
 	end
-end
\ No newline at end of file
+end