padding lines in a file 1

[bi]

I need help in figuring out a script.

We receive a text file with fixed length fields. However, sometimes the last 3 fields aren't used. sometimes it's just the last 2 fields that aren't used.

I need to figure out a way to count the characters in each line and then add spaces on the line to reach 140.

So, for example, if the line comes up to 120 characters long, I have to pad that line with 20 more spaces at the end of the line. If the lines comes up to 138 lines, I have to add 2 more spaces at the end of the line.

Help!

 

[CaKiwi]

Try this awk script

{
  while (length < 140) {
    $0 = $0 &quot; &quot;
  }
  print
}

Hope this helps. CaKiwi

 

[bi]

CaKiwi,

Thanks. My scripting talents (especially awk) are very poor so please bear with me.

How do I get the script to read the file (say, file1) and then output it to file2?

 

[CaKiwi]

if you put the script in a file, script.awk say, you can enter

awk -f script.awk file1

Alternatetively, enter

awk '{while (length<140) $0=$0 &quot; &quot;; print}' file1

Both methods will send the output to stdout. Add > file2 to the end of each to send the output to file2.

Hope this helps.


CaKiwi

 

[bi]

PERFECT!

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

 

[CaKiwi]

You're welcome, welcome, welcome! CaKiwi

 

[Einstein47]

Q

Is the method you described faster or more efficient than just using printf? Like this

awk '{ printf("%-140s\n" , $0) }' file1

I may just be relying on my C experience. Maybe this printf is doing the exact same thing, but using more overhead.

Any clarification would be helpful - for me at least.
Einstein47
(Love is like PI - natural, irrational, endless, and very important.)

 

[CaKiwi]

I suspect your method may be a little faster, especially if most lines needed a lot of padding. If most lines did not need padding, then my method might be faster. Maybe you could create a large file to test both of them and post the results. In any case, your method seems more elegant. CaKiwi