How to copy a column

satimis · 11-23-2010, 10:59 AM

Hi folks,

Ubuntu 10.10
Gnome desktop

On a text file, .txt, it is possible to high-light and copy a row on a table. But how to high-light and copy a column. TIA

B.R.
satimis

fordeck · 11-23-2010, 11:22 AM

You could use awk to accomplish this. Another way would be using the "cut" command.

ncsuapex · 11-23-2010, 11:23 AM

you can use the "cut" command to do this.

satimis · 11-23-2010, 06:50 PM

Hi fordeck and ncsuapex,

Thanks for your advice.

cut command:-

I think following article is relevant:-
How do I Select Columns From a File?
http://lowfatlinux.com/linux-columns-cut.html

But if the data file is as follow, column separated by space, what can I do?

Code:

  Year Yield Rainfall Temperature
1 1963	  60        8          56
2 1964    50       10          47
3 1965    70       11          53
4 1966    70       10          53
5 1967    80        9          56
6 1968    50        9          47
7 1969    60       12          44
8 1970    40       11          44

fordeck,

How to do it with awk? TIA

B.R.
satimis

sycamorex · 11-23-2010, 07:02 PM

What exactly are you trying to do? Which ones?

fordeck · 11-23-2010, 07:04 PM

One way would be:

Code:

my_machine:~$ cat test.txt
  Year Yield Rainfall Temperature
1 1963	  60        8          56
2 1964    50       10          47
3 1965    70       11          53
4 1966    70       10          53
5 1967    80        9          56
6 1968    50        9          47
7 1969    60       12          44
8 1970    40       11          44

Code:

my_machine:~$ awk '{print $1}' test.txt
Year
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Regards,

fordeck

custangro · 11-23-2010, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by satimis

Hi fordeck and ncsuapex,

Thanks for your advice.

cut command:-

I think following article is relevant:-
How do I Select Columns From a File?
http://lowfatlinux.com/linux-columns-cut.html

But if the data file is as follow, column separated by space, what can I do?

Code:

  Year Yield Rainfall Temperature
1 1963	  60        8          56
2 1964    50       10          47
3 1965    70       11          53
4 1966    70       10          53
5 1967    80        9          56
6 1968    50        9          47
7 1969    60       12          44
8 1970    40       11          44

fordeck,

How to do it with awk? TIA

B.R.
satimis

awk '{print $3}'

Will print the 3rd coloum

satimis · 11-23-2010, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sycamorex

What exactly are you trying to do? Which ones?

Hi,

I prefer to copy column/columns on the table with cut command. I suppose it is easier.

If it can't then how can I do it with awk? TIA

B.R.
satimis

sycamorex · 11-23-2010, 07:09 PM

My question is what are you trying to copy? Eg. column 2 to column 4, etc.

satimis · 11-23-2010, 07:21 PM

Hi fordeck, custangro

$ cat company.data1

Code:

  Year Yield Rainfall Temperature
1 1963	  60        8          56
2 1964    50       10          47
3 1965    70       11          53
4 1966    70       10          53
5 1967    80        9          56
6 1968    50        9          47
7 1969    60       12          44
8 1970    40       11          44

$ awk '{print $1}' company.data1

Code:

$ awk '{print $2}' company.data1

Code:

$ awk '{print $3}' company.data1

Code:

Rainfall
60
50
70
70
80
50
60
40

Columns 2,3... confused.

B.R.
satimis

satimis · 11-23-2010, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sycamorex

My question is what are you trying to copy? Eg. column 2 to column 4, etc.

Hi

Column 2 or 3 etc.
Column 2 to 3/4 etc.

B.R.
satimis

sycamorex · 11-23-2010, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Columns 2,3... confused.

Probably, the easiest solution would be to add the title header above numbers, eg:

No Year Yield Rainfall Temperature

sycamorex · 11-23-2010, 07:29 PM

This would copy column 1 to column 3:

Code:

cat file.txt | awk '{ $1=$3; print; }'

This would swap columns 1 and 3:

Code:

cat file.txt | awk '{ temp=$1; $1=$3; $3=temp; print; }'

Tinkster · 11-23-2010, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by satimis

Hi fordeck and ncsuapex,

Thanks for your advice.

cut command:-

I think following article is relevant:-
How do I Select Columns From a File?
http://lowfatlinux.com/linux-columns-cut.html

But if the data file is as follow, column separated by space, what can I do?

Code:

  Year Yield Rainfall Temperature
1 1963	  60        8          56
2 1964    50       10          47
3 1965    70       11          53
4 1966    70       10          53
5 1967    80        9          56
6 1968    50        9          47
7 1969    60       12          44
8 1970    40       11          44

fordeck,

How to do it with awk? TIA

B.R.
satimis

Quote:

man awk

has a host of useful information!

Cheers,
Tink

satimis · 11-23-2010, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sycamorex

This would copy column 1 to column 3:

Code:

cat file.txt | awk '{ $1=$3; print; }'

This would swap columns 1 and 3:

Code:

cat file.txt | awk '{ temp=$1; $1=$3; $3=temp; print; }'

Hi,

Sorry they can't work correctly here.

$ cat company.data1 | awk '{ $1=$3; print; }'

Code:

Rainfall Yield Rainfall Temperature
60 1963 60 8 56
50 1964 50 10 47
70 1965 70 11 53
70 1966 70 10 53
80 1967 80 9 56
50 1968 50 9 47
60 1969 60 12 44
40 1970 40 11 44

$ cat company.data1 | awk '{ temp=$1; $1=$3; $3=temp; print; }'

Code:

Rainfall Yield Year Temperature
60 1963 1 8 56
50 1964 2 10 47
70 1965 3 11 53
70 1966 4 10 53
80 1967 5 9 56
50 1968 6 9 47
60 1969 7 12 44
40 1970 8 11 44