Convert a paragraph to single line

Shell Programming and Scripting
1

I need to check the count of pipes on each line of the data to make sure we 4 pipes if its less i need to keep adding the string to form a single line ( Need to join/ concat the below lines until i get the 4 pipes which is end of record ). This fields is basicall a memo where the user would have typed a small paragraph that needs to be joined into a single line.

Sample Broken Lines and data
-----------------------------

467|Computer Monitor|Purchase Prise $150
Best Price $100

       Cheapest Price $75


                                 [RIGHT]highest price $200|T| [/RIGHT]

Correct record would look like this
467|Computer Monitor|Purchase Prise $150 Best Price $100 Cheapest Price $75 highest price $200|T|

Thanks,

2

nawk -f rim.awk myFile.txt

rim.awk:

BEGIN {
  FS=OFS="|"
  FLDmax="4"
}

NF > FLDmax { print; next }

NF {
   line=(line=="") ? $0 : line " " $0
   if ( split(line, lineA, OFS) > FLDmax ) {
      print line
      line=""
   }
}
3

vgersh99 Thanks a lot for the quick response.

It worked but i am getting some blank / white spaces before each text in this case it looks like this

467|Computer Monitor|Purchase Prise $150 Best Price $100 Cheapest Price $75 highest price $200T|

Sorry i tried my best to paste it could not get it to appear here. Baically there are lot of spaces between each for eg

Purchase Prise $150 <SPACE SPACE SPACE > Best Price $100 <SPACE SPACE SPACE >Cheapest Price $75<SPACE SPACE SPACE >highest price $200|T|

Would be really great if i can get it as

467|Computer Monitor|Purchase Prise $150 Best Price $100 Cheapest Price $75 highest price $200|T|

Thanks for all your help

4

try the latest code - I've made some modifications.

Also when posting code and/or sample data files, pls use vB codes.

Pls post the exact input file using the the vB codes.

5

Sorry dont see the latest code on your reply

6 
BEGIN {
  FS=OFS="|"
  FLDmax="4"
}

function compressSpace(str) {
  gsub(/[ ][ ]*/, " ", str)
  return str
}

NF >= FLDmax { print compressSpace($0); next }

NF {
   line=(line=="") ? $0 : line " " $0
   if ( split(line, lineA, OFS) > FLDmax ) {
      print compressSpace(line)
      line=""
   }
}
7

vgersh99 - Thank you very much you made my day !!! Really appreciate your help on this. :slight_smile: