Hi,

Here is my problem.

I will be getting a file with fixed width format.
Here i need to develop an utility in such a way that if i give the file name,then the script should generate 2 files,one with the data seperated by commas and the other file file with the metadata information.
for ex:

assume that this is my input file:

state desc
----- ----
TX Texas
Mi Michigan


the output should be like this
datafile:
TX,Texas
Mi,Michigan

Metadata File:
Col1 2
Col2 20

This is how the output should look like.
And the script should not be specific to this file,whatever the file i should be able to generate 2 files (commma seperated,metadata).

please give me some suggestions,how this can be done,with this there might be spaces in the data so the utility should be able to take that into consuderation.its urgent

I am not that good in shellscripting,so please be elaborative with ur answers
so that i can understand.

Thanks
vootkur

how do you derive the values in the metadata file?
where do the values '2' and '20' come from?

P.S. for the future - if any of the replies to you original posts do answer your question, it would be nice to know.

Hi vgersh,

Thank u very much for ur help.
Could me help me in writing a scrpit that is generalised in a way that whatever the file i give as an input(fixedwidth format files) the outputfile should be comma delimited,and there should not be any header and footer,this should work for any number of columns.can u also suggest me what should be done if there is no data in a column.For now if there is no data the next column value is sitting next to the comma.

Thanku
vootkur

pls don't post the same question to multiple threads.

If you no longer are interested in the original thread - pls say so.