UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

I have downloaded one csv file from my AIX box and edited using Text Pad, and uploaded thru SecureFX, If I see the file using vi command I can see ^M in end of the line, if open again in text pad there are lot of new lines. How to fix this issue? where is the problem? Text pad or SecureFX?

man unix2dos
or
man dos2unix

Sadly, my AIX box does not have dos2ux <sigh> - which I have used successfully on other systems.

The problem comes up that dos/windows uses two characters to indicate end-of-line. Unix uses one. What you are seeing in UNIX is the extraneous (at least to it) character.

Try transmitting the file in TEXT mode. that should convert between the two systems.

Else, find a way to use sed to get rid of the extra character.

If you transfer via ftp or sftp that problem will be automatically fixed.

You can search and replace in VI to take care of it:
:1,$s/^M//g

This will work on all unix flavors:

Code:

tr -d '\r' < problem_file.txt > fixed_file.txt

You can write a quick script in ksh on your aix box that is a little easier:

Code:

#!/bin/ksh
#
# dos2unix.sh - Removes trailing carriage returns from text files
#
# Usage: dos2unix.sh <file>

tmp=/tmp  # Define temporary work directory for temp files

if [ ! "$1" ]
then
    echo "Usage: dos2unix.sh <file>"
    exit 1
fi

if [ -f $1 ]
then
    tr -d '\r' < $1 > $tmp/$1.$$
    mv $tmp/$1.$$ $1
else
    echo "Not a valid file: $1"
    exit 1
fi

Maybe a quicker solution: see if TextPad can save the file with UNIX-style line endings. Most editors can do so.

use unix2dos or sometimes u can try reading it in ASCII format and it wud fix the issue