UNIX for Advanced & Expert Users

I have a kind of a multi-step problem:
What I want to do is: To find the maximum value in the second column, divide the entire column with this value and multiply with a user defined variable (e.g. x=400). The result should be written to a new file.

I.e., find max value of column 2 and perform the operation:
"val. column 2"*x/max

Example file:

*KEYWORD
*INITIAL_TEMPERATURE_NODE
52000290 457.10728
52000291 457.60783
52000292 457.10728
52000300 442.74765
52000301 443.36406
. .
. .
. .

New file:
*KEYWORD
*INITIAL_TEMPERATURE_NODE
52000290 399,56246
52000291 400.00000
52000292 399,56246
. .
. .
. .

Any suggestions?
Thx a lot...

Something like this?

Code:

awk 'NR==FNR{if(NR>2 && $2>m){m=$2};next}
FNR>2{$2=*400/m}1' file file

I get nothing written to the new.file when i execute

awk 'NR==FNR{if(NR>2 && $2>m){m=$2};next}FNR>2{$2*400/m}1' ex.file new.file

The command should be:

Code:

awk 'NR==FNR{if(NR>2 && $2>m){m=$2};next}
FNR>2{$2=*400/m}1' ex.file ex.file > newfile

Perfect... Works like a charm
Thx a lot

However, this is written for shell (?) - since I have to do some more manipulation, like the output digit format, so can you help with the syntax for an awk-script?

Medova, awk is not a shell, it is called by the shell. It is a programmable text filter or - if you prefer this definition - a programming language designed specifically for the processing of text files.

Regarding your problem: it would be better to post a clear, concise and complete description of what it is instead of starting with a part, then ask for the next part, etc..

Here is a link you might find useful:

How to ask questions the smart way

bakunin