The input file has dslkfj , adkf , Primrose , 1 lksdfj , Begonia , 1 ldskfjkd , lsdkfdk , Yellow Rose , 2 The first fields containing prose need to be combined into one, and the last two fields remain separate so the file will contain dslkfj adkf , Primrose , 332 lksdfj , Begonia , 235 ldskfjkd lsdkfdk lkdsfk , Yellow Rose , 463 Can I use a -$1 for the fields to combine them and how? Many Thanks, Natalie

First off, your data file has 4 fields in the first entry, 3 on the second and 4 on the third. Your output file example shows 4 fields on the first line, 3 on the second and 5 on the third. Additionally, the numbers in the output file are not the same as those on the input file (the last field). This is easy enough to do, and there are an abundance of good scripters who will help you. You just need to post a better example. How do you arrive at the different number on your output file? You said combine the first 2 fields and leave the second 2 comma separated. That would indicate you expect 4 fields in each entry. Why does the second only have 3?

Let me restate. I have variying numbers of fields due to my original output source. The original output source is not a database program. The last two fields of each record are consistent and all preceeding fields need to be combined into one. In the output I want just 3 Fields. The first field would be the instructions, the second, the plant name, the third, a number. What is intended to be the first field could be spread to 1, 2, or more fields. Try this input example (The first row has 4 comma separated fields, the second 3, the third 5) Pick the , flower , Primrose , 332 plant the seed , Begonia , 235 dig a hole , five feet , deep , Yellow Rose , 463 to (Output: each row has 3 comma separated fields, working from the right.) Pick the flower , Primrose , 332 plant the seed , Begonia , 235 dig a hole five feet deep , Yellow Rose , 463 I want to use the last two fields as an anchor and combine everything else. Is it possible? Wait... I think I could try printing the fields backwards starting with the maximum field number, $8 , $7..$1 then remove double "," separators at the begining with sed until text, then pring the new field $1, $2 and combine all remaining fields. Thanks for helping me think this out. I'll try this. Thanks, Natalie

Try that : awk ' BEGIN {    FS = "," ; OFS = "," } {   for (i=2; i<=NF-2; i++)       $1 = $1 $i;    print $1,$(NF-1),$NF; } ' input_file Jean-Pierre.

Thanks, I will try this. I had written something quite awful. Many, Many thanks, Natalie