paste uneven columns

bishop2001 · 12-01-2015, 05:45 PM

Hi
I have 2 files containing a column of uneven data in each.
file 1
12
765
998

File 2
Jerry
Alan

I'd like the output to look like:
12, Jerry
765, Alan
998

I tried paste but it's not lining up properly in 2 columns. Suggestions please
thanks

syg00 · 12-01-2015, 06:51 PM

That is what paste is designed to do - explain yourself.

danielbmartin · 12-01-2015, 08:27 PM

paste is the heart of a good solution.

With InFile1 ...

Code:

12
765
998

... and InFile2 ...

Code:

Jerry
Alan

... this paste ...

Code:

paste -d, $InFile1 $InFile2 >$OutFile

... produced this OutFile ...

Code:

12,Jerry
765,Alan
998,

Note that 998 has a trailing comma. If that bothers you, use this combination of sed and paste ...

Code:

paste -d"\0" $InFile1 <(sed 's/^/,/' $InFile2) >$OutFile

... to produce this OutFile ...

Code:

12,Jerry
765,Alan
998

Daniel B. Martin

syg00 · 12-01-2015, 10:25 PM

I would simply delete the comma at the end of any line after the paste.