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check for the first character to be blank

 
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# 1  
Old 10-21-2003
check for the first character to be blank
I'm having a problem when the first line or first character of a file is blank. I need to get rid of both of them when they occur but don't want to delete the line. Does anyone have any suggestions?
# 2  
Old 10-21-2003
if the line is blank is it padded w/ spaces kinda blank or is a carriage return?
# 3  
Old 10-21-2003
looks like it's padded with a space on the blank line.
# 4  
Old 10-21-2003
Code:
sed 's/^ *//' file1|sed '/^$/d'|sed '/^ $/d' > file2

# cat file1

Line 2
 Line 3
  Line 4

# cat file2
Line 2
Line 3
Line 4
#

im sure there is a way to make it look prettier then invokeing sed 3x but it works.
# 5  
Old 10-21-2003
I think that last SED command should actually be sed '/^ *$/d'.

Also, maybe this'll be faster than invoking SED three times:
sed -e 's/^ *//' -e '/^$/d' -e '/^ *$/d' file1 > file2
# 6  
Old 10-21-2003
Quote:
Originally posted by oombera
I think that last SED command should actually be sed '/^ *$/d'.

Also, maybe this'll be faster than invoking SED three times:
sed -e 's/^ *//' -e '/^$/d' -e '/^ *$/d' file1 > file2
see i knew someone wouldnt be as sloppy as me.
# 7  
Old 10-22-2003
Thanks oombera and optimus... Smilie both of the solutions each of you gave worked like a charm. I tried sometime similar to the end of the line as well.. with some mixed success.

Thanks again for your assistance.... and if you have any suggestions on how to get rid of the space at the end of the line, let me know. Harold
 
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