UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Hi,
Thank you for your help in advance .

I have thousands of files like...

file01
file02
file03
.
.
.
file6324

I would like to paste every other file side by side so it looks like

file01 file02
file03 file04
...e.t.c
file6323 file6324

In addition odd files has the following type of layout:

Preamble(Containing random stuff) (11 lines)

Data Table (11 columns all together) i.e
1 number
2 number
3 number
4 number
...e.tc

In addition even files has the following type of layout:

Preamble(Containing random stuff) (4 lines)

Data Table (columns all together 3) i.e
1 number
2 number
3 number
4 number
...e.tc

essentially joining tables together without the preamble jargon.

Once again thankyou in advance. Cheers

I am myself a beginner, but a shell script will help

while

do

start a counter c = 1:
d = c+1
then Something like
if elif to see even odd files, use sed 11d to clear the preamble or sed 4d depending on condition

then 'paste file${c} file${d}

increment c: c=$((c+1))

done


Good luck

Use the paste command

Code:

#!/bin/bash

cnt=1
while [ $cnt -le 6324 ]
do
# use files in numeric order
# create odd filename
     fname1=$(printf "file%02d" $cnt)
     cnt=$(( $cnt + 1 ))
#create even filename
     fname2=$(printf "file%02d" $cnt)
     cnt=$(( $cnt + 1))
# remove preamble 11 lines  odd file
     awk ' NR>11 ' $fname1 > /tmp/1
# remove preamble 4 lines  even file
     awk ' NR>4 ' $fname2 > /tmp/2
# put file contents into file with name like "file01file02" ... "file6323file6324"
     paste /tmp/1 /tmp/2 > ${fname1}${fname2}
done

This does not overwrite the old files, it makes new ones.

Cant thank you guys enough!!! been trying to solve this for the last few weeks and now it works. Much appreciated, seriously thanks.