Insert a delimiter using sort.

[Manish Arora]

Hi All,

I need to insert a delimiter(|) between two columns, how can I do that:

File1:

Code: Select all

NO# NAME ID 
123 AAAA 1 
456 BB   10 
789 CCC  2 

This should be converted into

Code: Select all

NO# NAME ID 
123|AAAA|1 
456|BB  |10 
789|CCC |2 

[zprogrammer]

Are the fields of fixed length and do you know in which position you wanted to place the delimiter (|) ?

[Manish Arora]

Hi Pandora-Box,

No, the fields length can vary. After every word (identified by at least once space in between) I need the delimiter.

[William Collins]

Do you want to replace spaces which indicate a break of field, or retain them? Do you have any field with an embedded space, like a name and surname in the same field?

Can you explain, and show some representative input and expected output for that?

[Manish Arora]

Hi William,

I want to replace the spaces which indicate a break of field. There is no space between name and surname. For example, I've the same input as I showed in previous post:

Code: Select all

NO# NAME ID 
123 AAAA 1 
456 BB   10 
789 CCC  2

expected output is:

Code: Select all

NO# NAME ID 
123|AAAA|1 
456|BB  |10 
789|CCC |2 

[Manish Arora]

"NO# NAME ID " are jut indicative, they are not part of input.

[zprogrammer]

Just trying to understand better Should it be like this

Code: Select all

NO# NAME ID
123|AAAA|1
456|BB  |10
789|CCC |2

or like this

Code: Select all

NO# NAME ID
123|AAAA|1
456|BB|10
789|CCC|2

[Manish Arora]

Sorry I could not compherhend your question before. Yes, this will work.

[William Collins]

Have a look at SQZ with MID=C'|', you should get it all in one shot.

Code: Select all

 INREC BUILD=(1,80,SQZ=(SHIFT=LEFT,MID=C’|’))

That will take the data from position 1, length 80, shift all the data left by removing multiple spaces, and replacing them with a single space, then all single spaces, original or new, will be replaced by |.

[Manish Arora]

Thanks. This worked.

Just reading your previous reply. In case I've to preserve the space between, say, first and surname. Can that be possible with a sort card like this, what consideration should i take. Please suggest.

[William Collins]

Yes, you can "protect" a field (or as many as you need) by bounding it with quotes or apostrophes, tell the SQZ that you have done that, then take them off afterwards, with FINDREP.

[Manish Arora]

FINDREP is a revolutionary argument! Used it, liked it.