inserting a delimeter in specific fields 3

[cryptoadm]

acct1 account name1 host1 host2 host3 host4 host5
acct2 account name2 host1 host2 host3 host4 host5

My file looks similar to the above and I want a delimeter in all spaces except the second.

example:
acct1:account name1:host1:host2:host3:host4:host5
acct2:account name2:host1:host2:host3:host4:host5

Thanks!

 

[moonring]

awk '{printf $1s$2 FS; for(i=3;i<NF;i++) printf $i s; printf $NF RS}' s=":" file

 

[moonring]

Oops change,

...printf $NF RS} --> ... print $NF }

 

[PHV]

sed 's! !:!g;s!:! !2' /path/to/input >output

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

 

[cryptoadm]

Thanks to both of you.

 

[cryptoadm]

Would either of you break down how your commands work so I can understand them better?

 

[PHV]

man sed

 

[Annihilannic]

awk '
    # for every line of input
    {
        # print first and second field separated by s variable, followed by a space
        printf $1s$2 FS
        # print third and remaining fields (except last) followed by s variable
        for(i=3;i<NF;i++) printf $i s
        # print the last field and a carriage return
        print $NF
    }
' s=":" file  # set the value of s and specify input file

sed '
    s! !:!g      # replace all occurrences of space with :
    s!:! !2      # replace second occurrence of : with space
' inputfile > outputfile

Annihilannic.

 

[cryptoadm]

Thanks Annihilannic!