Hi. I don't know very much about Linux. Would it be possible to write script that converts certain text samples to pure numbers. How would I start doing this?

that's kind of vague....can you give more details?

However, bash-scripting might do what you need it to do, or perl or python...(google any of these terms and you'll get plenty of info)

As for what you need it for, you have 2 choices really, learn one of the above and make a script (or program) for yourself or you can see if someone can do it for you if you ask nicely

(personally I'd recommend learning...its always good to stretch your abilities and plus you can make something that exactly fits your needs rather than relying on someone else to do it for you...but that just me)

It's vague because I don't know anything! I don't even know where to begin. Yikes! What I need to do is if I have a text file that says

monday tree 4.5
wednesday tree 4.8 cloud 6

it can be converted into a matrix
mon wed
tree 4.5 4.8
cloud 6

That's all I meant

Its ok if you don't know anything yet We all had to start sometime...I meant you were vague in what you wanted to do.

I mean "write script that converts certain text samples to pure numbers" doesn't say much.

I still say maybe a bash-script can do what you need, shouldn't be too hard to learn.

Hang in there

Try this link:

http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Bash-Prog-Intro-HOWTO.html

Hmmm... looks interesting. Maybe I can figure something out with that. I actually know C++ (time wrap i know, i used borland too!); is there some way I can use C++? or will it be harder for me or the computer if i have 900 pages of text to convert.

Heck, if you know C++, do it in C++! That would be a good way to get you started...

You don't mention which linux distro you have, but it is very likely that you have a C++ compiler installed (most have it installed by default).

C++ is simply more fun on linux...and heck, I learned C++ back on Borland and DOS so don't feel too bad...

Go to www.tldp.org and browse the Howtos and there should be one about C++ in there..