How do you join (concatenate) variable number of lines in a file 1

[keusch]

I can't seem to hurtle creating a file with variable number of joins (line concatenation) - I can do this in a macro in vi but haven't mastered joining in an awk script with more than one line joining at a time.
the script needs to:

search for ^STARTRECORD and append each line following that begins with ^ JOINRECORD

INPUT

STARTRECORD 49035063810000 PT 001 OIL ISIP 5900
JOINRECORD MIN/ 5800
STARTRECORD 49035063810000 PT 002 OIL, ISIP 5700
STARTRECORD 49035063810000 PT 005 GAUGES NOT MCFD-1540 MCFD
STARTRECORD 49035063810000 PT 003 FLOWED
JOINRECORD 887 BY END OF TEST, STABALIZED AT 768 MCFD
JOINRECORD ACT W/GEL DIESEL-FLUSHED W/9660 GALS CLEAR DIESEL ISIP
JOINRECORD 5200 SIP /15 MINS/ 5000 FLOWED 1020 MCFD DECR TO 362 MCFD

OUTPUT SHOULD LOOK LIKE:
STARTRECORD 49035063810000 PT 001 OIL ISIP 5900 JOINRECORD MIN/ 5800
STARTRECORD 49035063810000 PT 002 OIL, ISIP 5700
STARTRECORD 49035063810000 PT 005 GAUGES NOT MCFD-1540 MCFD
STARTRECORD 49035063810000 PT 003 FLOWED JOINRECORD 887 BY END OF TEST, STABALIZED AT 768 MCFD JOINRECORD ACT W/GEL DIESEL-FLUSHED W/9660 GALS CLEAR DIESEL ISIP JOINRECORD 5200 SIP /15 MINS/ 5000 FLOWED 1020 MCFD DECR TO 362 MCFD

This is a simplified file. In reality, I will not need the STARTRECORD AND jOINRECORD IN THE FINAL FILE; HOWEVER, IT WAS EASIER FOR ME TO SCRIPT IT IN AT THIS POINT. ( I was using sed to strip the final file)
Thanks,
And while I'm at it - How about a good "basics" awk book?
Thanks again

 

[CaKiwi]

Hi keusch,

Your output file looks amazingly like your input file. I don't know if it is a cut and paste problem or a formatting problem with the forum. This may not do exactly what you want but should get you started.

{
  if ($1 == "STARTRECORD") {
    if (flg) print ""
    printf substr($0,12)
    flg = 1
  }
  else if ($1 == "JOINRECORD" && flg) {
    printf substr($0,11)
  }
  else {
    if (flg) print ""
    print
    flg = 0
  }
}
END {
  if (flg) print ""
}

Hope this helps. CaKiwi

 

[misercord]

I think this might solve the problem

/STARTRECORD/ { printf("\n%s",$0) }
/JOINRECORD/ { printf("%s",$0) }

One of the Best books on sed & Awk

http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/sed2/

 

[olded]

Hi:

Sed & Awk is a very good book, but I still use The AWK Programming Language by Aho, Weinberger, and Kernigan.

It's old, but still is available at Amazon.com.

Regards,

Ed

 

[misercord]

This might save you having to add the STARTRECORD and JOIN RECORD.

/BEGIN/ { FLAG = 0 }
/^49035063810000/ { if ( FLAG )
printf("\n&quot
else
FLAG = 1
printf("%s",$0)
}
!/^49035063810000/ { printf("%s",$0) }

The AWK Programming Language by Aho, Weinberger, and Kernigan, is also an excellent book and thin.

 

[keusch]

THANKS FOR EVERYONE'S HELP.
As stated in the original statement, this was a very simple example of a large file. Misercord, your 1st suggestion worked great. Your second example of was not applicable since the string 4903506381 was a variable and changed throughout the 47,000 line file. I 'm still trying understand the finer points of your second sugestion as far as how it is set up. I may have to get back with you on that one.
Thanks again.