Converting Text Files to CSV without Name Duplication in Python or AWK

Описание: Learn how to convert your text files into a CSV format while eliminating duplicates and summing values in real time using Python and AWK.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/66933054/ asked by the user 'Jack' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/15545857/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/66935230/ provided by the user 'Ludovic Kuty' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/452614/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Converting Text Files to CSV without Name Duplication: A Practical Guide

Converting data from one format to another is a common task in data management. However, if you're dealing with a text file containing repeated entries, you may run into challenges with name duplication and value summation. If you're finding yourself in this predicament, you're not alone! Let's explore how to achieve this efficiently using both Python and AWK.

Understanding Your Data Structure

Let's consider the sample data structure you may encounter in your text file:

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Each entry has a name (like PID, FW, etc.) followed by the corresponding value. The issue is that the file gets printed every second, producing duplicate rows for the same name. Your goal is to consolidate these into a single CSV file without repeating the names and summing up the values in real-time.

The Challenge

Your main challenge lies in:

Converting a text file to a CSV file.

Avoiding name duplication in the first column.

Adding up values efficiently when duplicates appear.

Solution Approach

Using AWK

AWK is a powerful text processing tool that handles this process brilliantly. Here's how you can use AWK to convert your data:

Collect Data Using AWK: By utilizing an array to concatenate values, you can manage this in one pass.

Here's the AWK script:

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What It Does:

The script checks if the first column isn't empty and collects the second column's value for that key.

At the end (END block), it prints out the key-value pairs without duplicating names.

Output Example: After running the AWK command, you would get a CSV format like this:

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Using a Wrapper Script for Improved Sorting

If you need enhanced functionality, consider sorting the input before processing. Here's a shell script that leverages both sort and awk:

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Running the Script

You can run the script with:

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Python Alternative

If you prefer to use Python, here’s a sample code snippet using the csv module:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion

Whether you choose to use AWK or Python for converting text files into CSV format, both methods effectively prevent name duplication while summing values in real-time.

AWK: Great for concise, one-liners that operate directly in the terminal.

Python: Ideal for those who prefer a more programmatic and readable approach.

Give these solutions a try, and you'll have your data neatly organized in no time! If you have any questions or need further assistance, let us know in the comments below!