> My question is concerning the line > "This is adequate for small files, but for anything more > complicated we > recommend using the facilities of a language like perl to > pre-process the file."
An alternative to Perl is to use the big data library of S-PLUS 7 Enterprise, which would allow you to read in the entire fixed-format file and pre-process it using S commands. You could then export the processed data to a file from S-PLUS and import into R. If your university has S-PLUS, S-PLUS 7 Enterprise should be available (all academic institutions were upgraded to S-PLUS 7 Enterprise, which has the big data library). You can read more information about the big data library at: http://www.insightful.com/insightful_doclib/document.asp?id=167 # David Smith -- David M Smith <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Senior Product Manager, Insightful Corp, Seattle WA Tel: +1 (206) 802 2360 Fax: +1 (206) 283 6310 New S-PLUS 7! Create advanced statistical applications with large data sets. www.insightful.com/splus > -----Original Message----- > From: Jean Eid [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2005 5:39 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [R] preprocessing data > > > Dear all, > > My question is concerning the line > "This is adequate for small files, but for anything more > complicated we > recommend using the facilities of a language like perl to > pre-process > the file." > > in the import/export manual. > > I have a large fixed-width file that I would like to > preprocess in Perl or > awk. The problem is that I do not know where to start. Does > anyone have a > simple example on how to turn a fixed-width file in any of these > facilities into csv or tab delimited file. I guess I am looking for > somewhat a perl for dummies or awk for dummies that does this. any > pointers for website will be greatly appreciated > > Thank you > > > Jean Eid > > ______________________________________________ > [email protected] mailing list > https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help > PLEASE do read the posting guide! > http://www.R-project.org/posting-guide.html > ______________________________________________ [email protected] mailing list https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help PLEASE do read the posting guide! http://www.R-project.org/posting-guide.html
