From: Eric Hodel <drbrain@...7.net>
Date: 2006-12-28T14:37:50+09:00
Subject: Re: Need help massaging some strings


On Dec 27, 2006, at 21:21, Taylor Strait wrote:

> As a Rails developer, I've been learning Ruby on a need-to-know basis.
> However, I now need to tap its power to batch alter some very large  
> text
> dumps and find myself a bit lost.  Here is what I need to do:
>
> Transform data in files like "alabama.txt":
>     * White Hall, Lowndes County
>     * Wilmer, Mobile County
>     * Wilsonville, Shelby County
>     * Wilton, Shelby County
>     * Winfield, Marion County
>     * Winterboro, Talladega County
>
> ...into this format:
> White Hall
> Wilmer
> Wilsonville
> Wilton
> Winfield
> Winterboro
>
> I have created a method for doing this in "cleanup.rb":
>
> def cleanup(state)
>   diskfile = File.new(state + "-cleaned.txt", "w")
>   $stdout = diskfile
>
>   IO.foreach(state + ".txt") do |line|
>     line.delete("\*")
>     line.strip!
>     temp = line.split(",")
>     temp.delete_at(1).to_s
>     puts temp
>   end
>
>   diskfile.close
>   $stdout = STDOUT
> end
>
> So I go into IRB and here is how my session goes:
>
> irb(main):008:0> require 'cleanup'
>   => true
> irb(main):009:0> cleanup(alabama)
>   NameError: undefined local variable or method `alabama' for
> main:Object

This is your clue.  You didn't define the alabama variable or method.

> irb(main):010:0> cleanup
>   ArgumentError: wrong number of arguments (0 for 1)

You have to pass one argument.

> So my method is loaded but isn't working.  Could anyone offer any  
> advice
> on getting this thing running?  Thanks in advance.

cleanup 'alabama'

-- 
Eric Hodel - drbrain@segment7.net - http://blog.segment7.net

I LIT YOUR GEM ON FIRE!