Replace space with commas but for first 28 characters per line

David Cummings · Jan 31, 2023, 10:44 AM

Each day I get a text file with 2,000+ lines like this -

406D69 NPT04S G-JMCH B734 West Atlantic UK -------- 25025 24450 1250 1250 30/01/2023 23:54:46 30/01/2023 23:59:31

I wish to have the output changed to -
406D69,NPT04S,G-JMCH,B734,West Atlantic UK -------- 25025 24450 1250 1250 30/01/2023 23:54:46 30/01/2023 23:59:31

Ideally I want the output to be -

406D69,NPT04S,G-JMCH,B734,West Atlantic UK

I would have suggested that anything including “--------” and after is removed but sometimes I get lines like this -

45CE4E -------- OY-SRN B762 Maersk Air Cargo -------- 17600 22950 0000 0000 30/01/2023 03:35:36 30/01/2023 19:58:48

but getting the commas only into the first 28 columns would be a awesome start, can notepad++ do this?

Alan Kilborn · Jan 31, 2023, 12:11 PM

This post is deleted!

dinkumoil · Jan 31, 2023, 1:38 PM

@David-Cummings

At first I want to hint you that this forum provides the ability to post data in a way that the forum software doesn’t change/reformat your input data:

Surround your data with grave characters or
click the code button in the toolbar above the text input area where you type your comments

and replace the pre-selected text showing up with your data. Using method 1. your posting would be then:

@David-Cummings said in Replace space with commas but for first 28 characters per line:

Each day I get a text file with 2,000+ lines like this -
406D69 NPT04S G-JMCH B734 West Atlantic UK -------- 25025 24450 1250 1250 30/01/2023 23:54:46 30/01/2023 23:59:31
I wish to have the output changed to -
406D69,NPT04S,G-JMCH,B734,West Atlantic UK -------- 25025 24450 1250 1250 30/01/2023 23:54:46 30/01/2023 23:59:31
Ideally I want the output to be -
406D69,NPT04S,G-JMCH,B734,West Atlantic UK
I would have suggested that anything including -------- and after is removed but sometimes I get lines like this -
45CE4E -------- OY-SRN B762 Maersk Air Cargo -------- 17600 22950 0000 0000 30/01/2023 03:35:36 30/01/2023 19:58:48
but getting the commas only into the first 28 columns would be a awesome start, can notepad++ do this?

To answer your question: Yes, Notepad++ can help you with your task. Provided that the line

45CE4E -------- OY-SRN B762 Maersk Air Cargo -------- 17600 22950 0000 0000 30/01/2023 03:35:36 30/01/2023 19:58:48

should be converted to

45CE4E,--------,OY-SRN,B762,Maersk Air Cargo

try the following:

Open Search & Replace dialog and set the following options:

Find what: ^([^\h]+)\h+([^\h]+)\h+([^\h]+)\h+([^\h]+)\h+([\w ]+(?= -))(.+)$
Replace with: $1,$2,$3,$4,$5
Match whole word only: Unchecked
Wrap around: Checked
Search mode: Set option Regular expression and uncheck . matches newline

Finally click Replace all button.

guy038 · Jan 31, 2023, 1:35 PM

Hello, @david-cummings, @alan-kilborn and All,

Not difficult with regexes !

So, let’s start with this INPUT text :

406D69 NPT04S G-JMCH B734 West Atlantic UK -------- 25025 24450 1250 1250 30/01/2023 23:54:46 30/01/2023 23:59:31

Open the Replace dialog ( Ctrl + H )
SEARCH (?x-s) ^ (\S+) \x20 (\S+) \x20 (\S+) \x20 (\S+) \x20 (\S+) | \x20+ -------- .+
REPLACE (?1\1,\2,\3,\4,\5)
Untick all box options
Tick the Wrap around option
Select the Regular expression serach mode
Click on the Replace All button

=> You should get your expected OUTPUT text :

406D69,NPT04S,G-JMCH,B734,West Atlantic UK

If OK, I’ll explain you how it works, next time !

Note that I use the Free Spacing mode (?x), in the search regex, in order to separate the main parts for a better comprehension

Best Regards,

guy038