From: Nuralanur@...
Date: 2006-05-26T17:27:07+09:00
Subject: Re: help regarding extracting a particular value in a file

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Assuming that your data is in a file "data_to_split.txt" in the same  
directory,
you can do this:
 
 
 
file_name="data_to_split.txt"
data_array=IO.readlines(file_name)  #  reads content of file into an Array ( 
each entry = one  line)
only_second_entries=[]
data_array.each{|line|       
only_second_entries<<(line.split(',')[1])  # note that indices start  at 0 in 
Ruby
}
p 'only second entries contains'
p  only_second_entries

If you have more complicated patterns that separate your data than just a  
comma,
you can also use split in conjunction with "regular  expressions".
 
          only_second_entries<<(line.split(/,/)[1])  # note that indices 
start  at 0 in Ruby

These "regular expressions" allow to search for things like "a comma and  
then two small letters, followed by at least three numbers and then anything but  
"A"", so there is
room for arbitrary complexity ...
Regular expressions are explained in detail here:
 
_http://www.regular-expressions.info/_ (http://www.regular-expressions.info/) 
 
Best regards,
 
Axel 
 

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