Re: Import/Convert Text File - Help!

#1

"Scoop" <Scoop-no-spam (AT) antigone (DOT) cotse.net> wrote

Quote:

I have a text file that is a mess. Apparently, the data is taken from
some
type of form that puts the information in a plain text file as follows:

****************************
NAME:

ADDRESS:

TELEPHONE:

DATE OF BIRTH:

BRITTANY SPEARS

1212 FAKECHEST WAY

BOULDER, CO 22119

(202)234-5678

3/12/03

****************************

You can see that the NAME: is BRITTANY SPEARS but the information is
separated by several lines. What I am trying to do is convert the above
text file to look as follows:

BRITTANY SPEARS, 1212 FAKECHEST WAY, BOULDER, CO, 22119, (202)234-5679,
3/12/03

With a carriage return separating each record. Basically, I want to scan
the entire text file and put the data in some order that is more "usable."
Any and all help appreciated.

From your description, I don't see what the problem is. Just write a program
to read in the file and write out a new file in the format you want. Any
programming language will do while perl or awk jump out at me as strongish
candidates.

#2

After a long battle with technology,"Scoop" <Scoop-no-spam (AT) antigone (DOT) cotse.net>, an earthling, wrote:

Quote:

I have a text file that is a mess. Apparently, the data is taken from some
type of form that puts the information in a plain text file as follows:

****************************
NAME:

ADDRESS:

TELEPHONE:

DATE OF BIRTH:

BRITTANY SPEARS

1212 FAKECHEST WAY

BOULDER, CO 22119

(202)234-5678

3/12/03

****************************

You can see that the NAME: is BRITTANY SPEARS but the information is
separated by several lines. What I am trying to do is convert the above
text file to look as follows:

BRITTANY SPEARS, 1212 FAKECHEST WAY, BOULDER, CO, 22119, (202)234-5679, 3/12/03

With a carriage return separating each record. Basically, I want to scan
the entire text file and put the data in some order that is more "usable."
Any and all help appreciated.

I have used numerous languages for this purpose, including Perl,
Python, Scheme, and Common Lisp. Icon would doubtless also do a good
job of it. And Ruby, awk, and others would also work.

This is a typical "database conversion" sort of problem; what you have
to do is to pick a text processing language and come up with a
strategy for parsing the bits that are fiddly.

There's no generic answer because every such "input format" has its
own unique characteristics.

No self-respecting awk/Perl programmer would have any trouble with
it...
--
"aa454","@","freenet.carleton.ca"
http://www.ntlug.org/~cbbrowne/unix.html
Marriage means commitment. Of course, so does insanity.

#3

Scoop wrote:

Quote:

I have a text file that is a mess. Apparently, the data is taken from some
type of form that puts the information in a plain text file as follows:

****************************
NAME:

ADDRESS:

TELEPHONE:

DATE OF BIRTH:

BRITTANY SPEARS

1212 FAKECHEST WAY

BOULDER, CO 22119

(202)234-5678

3/12/03

****************************

You can see that the NAME: is BRITTANY SPEARS but the information is
separated by several lines. What I am trying to do is convert the above
text file to look as follows:

BRITTANY SPEARS, 1212 FAKECHEST WAY, BOULDER, CO, 22119, (202)234-5679, 3/12/03

With a carriage return separating each record. Basically, I want to scan
the entire text file and put the data in some order that is more "usable."
Any and all help appreciated.

Take a look at ParseRat (http://www.parserat.com) - treat each block as a "page
image" on input.

--
Ed Guy P.Eng,CDP,MIEE
Information Technology Consultant
Internet: ed (AT) guysoftware (DOT) com
http://www.guysoftware.com
"Check out HELLLP!, WinHelp author tool for WinWord 2.0 through 8.0,
PlanBee Project Management Planning System
and ParseRat, the File Parser, Converter and Reorganizer"

#4

Scoop wrote:

Quote:

I have a text file that is a mess. Apparently, the data is taken from some
type of form that puts the information in a plain text file as follows:

****************************
NAME:

ADDRESS:

TELEPHONE:

DATE OF BIRTH:

BRITTANY SPEARS

1212 FAKECHEST WAY

BOULDER, CO 22119

(202)234-5678

3/12/03

****************************

You can see that the NAME: is BRITTANY SPEARS but the information is
separated by several lines. What I am trying to do is convert the above
text file to look as follows:

BRITTANY SPEARS, 1212 FAKECHEST WAY, BOULDER, CO, 22119, (202)234-5679, 3/12/03

With a carriage return separating each record. Basically, I want to scan
the entire text file and put the data in some order that is more "usable."
Any and all help appreciated.

You'll be best off using a test processing language like PERL. But even with
that you are going to have lot's of fun programming the exceptions!

contact me if you want a little more detail. I've done lots of data
conversions with PERL. Or go to the comp.lang.perl group.

--
Ed Prochak
running http://www.faqs.org/faqs/running-faq/
netiquette http://www.psg.com/emily.html
--
"Two roads diverged in a wood and I
I took the one less travelled by
and that has made all the difference."
robert frost

#5

If I have to do such things, I first use my programming editor
(slickedit.com) to make some first clean ups "by hand". This works really
fine using macros and regular expressions. Within a few minutes I can
create nearly any data structures I want.

Otto

Ed Prochak <edprochak (AT) adelphia (DOT) net> wrote in
news:3F1892BE.2040304 (AT) adelphia (DOT) net:

Quote:

Scoop wrote:
I have a text file that is a mess....

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Re: Import/Convert Text File - Help!

comp.databases comp.databases

Re: Import/Convert Text File - Help! - 07-10-2003 , 11:36 AM

Re: Import/Convert Text File - Help! - 07-10-2003 , 10:20 PM

Re: Import/Convert Text File - Help! - 07-11-2003 , 01:49 AM

Re: Import/Convert Text File - Help! - 07-18-2003 , 07:18 PM

Re: Import/Convert Text File - Help! - 07-25-2003 , 03:57 AM