UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

1|A|apple
2|B|bottle

1 A apple 
2 B bottle

#!/bin/bash
# tab.sh
> /tmp/txt
> /tmp/text
echo "1|A|apple|A|apple
2|B|bottle|A|apple
2|B|bottle
1|A|apple
2|B|bottle
" > /tmp/txt
text=$(cat /tmp/txt)
echo "$text"
# Working part start.
count=0
while [ $count -lt ${#text} ]
do
	if [ "${text:$count:1}" = "|" ]
	then
		printf "	" >> /tmp/text
	else
		printf "${text:$count:1}" >> /tmp/text
	fi
	count=$((count+1))
done
# Replace the final newline.
echo "" >> /tmp/text
# Working part end.
cat /tmp/text
hexdump -C /tmp/text
exit 0

Last login: Sun Apr  5 16:00:45 on ttys000
AMIGA:barrywalker~> cd Desktop/Code/Shell
AMIGA:barrywalker~/Desktop/Code/Shell> chmod 755 tab.sh
AMIGA:barrywalker~/Desktop/Code/Shell> ./tab.sh
1|A|apple|A|apple
2|B|bottle|A|apple
2|B|bottle
1|A|apple
2|B|bottle
1	A	apple	A	apple
2	B	bottle	A	apple
2	B	bottle
1	A	apple
2	B	bottle
00000000  31 09 41 09 61 70 70 6c  65 09 41 09 61 70 70 6c  |1.A.apple.A.appl|
00000010  65 0a 32 09 42 09 62 6f  74 74 6c 65 09 41 09 61  |e.2.B.bottle.A.a|
00000020  70 70 6c 65 0a 32 09 42  09 62 6f 74 74 6c 65 0a  |pple.2.B.bottle.|
00000030  31 09 41 09 61 70 70 6c  65 0a 32 09 42 09 62 6f  |1.A.apple.2.B.bo|
00000040  74 74 6c 65 0a                                    |ttle.|
00000045
AMIGA:barrywalker~/Desktop/Code/Shell> _

tr '|' '\t'