copy and past a column between files

SAAAD · 04-19-2013, 02:57 PM

Hi there,

I would like to know the Linux syntax needed to copy a column from file.A and past it to file.B.
Where file.B contains 6 clumns already and I want the new copied column to be the 7th.

waiting for your usual cooperation..

cortman · 04-19-2013, 03:30 PM

Do some research on awk- it should be quite simple.

Code:

awk '{print $1}'

and see here for info on adding it to the second file.

druuna · 04-19-2013, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SAAAD

I would like to know the Linux syntax needed to copy a column from file.A and past it to file.B.
Where file.B contains 6 clumns already and I want the new copied column to be the 7th.

If there is only one column present in file.A:

Code:

paste -d" " file.B file.A

If file.A has more columns:

Code:

awk '{ print $X }' file.A | paste -d" " file.B -

Replace X with the column number.

SAAAD · 04-19-2013, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by druuna

If there is only one column present in file.A:

Code:

paste -d" " file.B file.A

If file.A has more columns:

Code:

awk '{ print $X }' file.A | paste -d" " file.B -

Replace X with the column number.

thank you..

SAAAD · 04-19-2013, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SAAAD

thank you..

I had just tried it, but its not working!
No data copied!

shivaa · 04-19-2013, 11:00 PM

@SAAD:

Perhapds you made some mistake while choosing column number (i.e. $X) in awk cmd, else what druuna has mentioned is working perfectly.

Anyway, if it's still not working then can you show us some example of fileA and fileB?

SAAAD · 04-19-2013, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SAAAD

I had just tried it, but its not working!
No data copied!

file.A
178
255
23

file.B
jhon 17 male
tom 15 male
marry 13 female

I need to copy the lonely column in file.A to file.B by creating a new 4th column..
Hope this clear.

Thank you

shivaa · 04-19-2013, 11:50 PM

In that case, no need to use awk, but simply paste cmd will do it:

Code:

~$ paste -d" " fileB fileA

john 17 male 178
tom 15 male 255
marry 13 female 23

OR
~$ paste -d"\t" fileB fileA

Just give it a try.

SAAAD · 04-20-2013, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shivaa

In that case, no need to use awk, but simply paste cmd will do it:

Code:

~$ paste -d" " fileB fileA

john 17 male 178
tom 15 male 255
marry 13 female 23

OR
~$ paste -d"\t" fileB fileA

Just give it a try.

I tried it.. and its working.
Thanks a lot!

shivaa · 04-20-2013, 01:09 AM

Good :-). BTW, you can Mark the thread as solved (option is under Thread Tools on top menu), if you think it has so.