the full perl solution:

#!perl

open IN,  "<${ARGS[0]}";
open OUT, ">${ARGS[1]}";
my $n = $ARGS[2];

while (<IN>) {
        print OUT substr $_,$n;
}


And yes .. it's shorter ;)

On Fri, 18 Jul 2008, Michiel Van Bel wrote:

ok, here is the full java code:

class ReduceFile{
   public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception{
      BufferedReader reader = new BufferedReader(new FileReader(new File(args[0])));
      BufferedWriter writer = new BufferedWriter(new FileWriter(new File(args[1])));
      int length = Integer.parseInt(args[2]);
      String s = reader.readLine();
      while(s!=null){
            writer.write(s.substring(length,s.length())+"\n");
            s = reader.readLine();
      }
      reader.close();
      writer.close();
  }
}

Then execute with : "java ReduceFile fileIn fileOut n"

Cannot be simpler... (though i agree that java is quite a verbose language compared to perl)

Michiel



Ward Blondé wrote:

 I tried both with the same result.

 Ward

 Kenny Billiau wrote:
>  your in and outfile have to different, sed is a StreamEDitor .. or also >  known as the ShrEDder ;) It's mostly harmless tho,
> >  Kenny
> >  On Fri, 18 Jul 2008, Ward Blondé wrote:
> > > > >  Thanks for all the answers. I tried this 'sed' method of Kenny but it > >  reduces my file to the characterless file.
> >  I 'll try something else.
> > > >  Ward
> > > >  Kenny Billiau wrote:
> > >  apparently, you  also have to escape the {} in tcsh .. so the sed > > >  solution
> > >   becomes:
> > > > > >   sed "s/^.\{,2\}\(.*\)//" infile > outfile
> > > > > >   (djeezes)
> > > > > >   -Kenny
> > > > > >   On Fri, 18 Jul 2008, Ward Blondé wrote:
> > > > > > > > >   I have no problems with VI, but I don't understand the > > >  answer: the >  number n doesn't occur in it!?
> > > > >   Ward
> > > > > >   Sofie Van Landeghem wrote:
> > > > >    Oh, gaan we in VI beginnen, ik doe alles in java hoor :p
> > > > > > >    Kenny Billiau wrote:
> > > > > >    In VI you can do:
> > > > > > >    <esc>gg<ctrl+v>Gd
> > > > > > > >    the sequences between <> are key you have to press .. :)
> > > > > > >    On Fri, 18 Jul 2008, Ward Blondé wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > > >    Hoi Binaries,
> > > > > > > > >    Does anyone know a nice method to strip the first n > > > > >   characters away > >  from every line in a file?
> > > > > > > > >    Ward

_______________________________________________

> > > > > > >    Binari Is Not A Regular Island
> > > > > > >    Binari@psb.ugent.be
> > > > > > >    https://maillist.psb.ugent.be/mailman/listinfo/binari
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >  ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > > > > > >

_______________________________________________

> > > > > >    Binari Is Not A Regular Island
> > > > > >    Binari@psb.ugent.be
> > > > > >    https://maillist.psb.ugent.be/mailman/listinfo/binari
> > > > > > > > > > > >   ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > > > > > > >   _______________________________________________
> > >   Binari Is Not A Regular Island
> > >   Binari@psb.ugent.be
> > >   https://maillist.psb.ugent.be/mailman/listinfo/binari
> > > > > > > > > > >  ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>

_______________________________________________

>  Binari Is Not A Regular Island
>  Binari@psb.ugent.be
>  https://maillist.psb.ugent.be/mailman/listinfo/binari
>

_______________________________________________
Binari Is Not A Regular Island
Binari@psb.ugent.be
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Elisabeth Wischnitzki 

Tel:+32 (0)9 331 38 22                        fax:+32 (0)9 3313809
VIB Department of Plant Systems Biology, Ghent University
Technologiepark 927, 9052 Gent, BELGIUM
elwis@psb.ugent.be                         http://www.psb.ugent.be
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