Find a minimum value in a single column and save it at the other file

[swlee49]

Hi, I have a simple question. I tried to find an answer here. I found some more complicated things, but I would like to know just this simple one. my find_minimum.dat file has a single column with both positive and negative number such as

1
-2
3
-5.5
2
67
3.8

I would like to find the minimum value, -5.5 and save it into other file, for example, minimum.dat.

Could you let me know how to do this?

Thanks,
SWL

 

[PHV]

What have you tried so far and where in your code are you stuck ?

Hope This Helps, PH.
FAQ219-2884
FAQ181-2886

 

[FlorianAwk]

Don't use "awk". Use "sort"

sort -n find_minimum.dat

"sort" to sort.
"-n" for numeric sorting.

That's all!

 

[Annihilannic]

And perhaps head -1 to pull out the single value you require.

Annihilannic
[small]tgmlify - code syntax highlighting for your tek-tips posts[/small]

 

[swlee49]

I deeply appreciate your suggestions. All works!! Now, my data managing becomes 50 times faster than before. I know this is too simple to ask this place, but I did not know how to do at all. Thank you so much!