How do you get an awk output into columns i.e.
awk (print $1,$2,$3) doesn't come out into nice columns but lots of lines of txt want something more like.

I am crap
at unix so
give me a
hand thx Rich

You are really close to the actual syntax of awk...

If you read the man page for awk you will see examples at the bottom. Try '{ }' instead of braces ( ) and put the filename after the end of the }' with a space after the '

__________________
My brain is your brain

To format the output, use printf instead of print. Check the awk and format man page for more assistance.

Im nearly there, thx very much just trying to work out what
printf '{"%4s %4d %3s/n", $1, $2, $3}'. what exactly the %4s %4d %3s/n all stands for any more help would be greatly appreciated.

Rich