All,

            I use the split command to tell me how many fields are in a line of text sent to
 me. The data is character delimited with a � as the delimiter. Each line of text ends wit
h a �. Normally if I do a split I get one more list element than there are fields. I have 
a case where this is not happening. I am including 2 examples. The first is not working as e
xpected the line of data is:

314185798�59858�2004-11-19�2004-11-19 23:08:00� KPFS-IN NCAL-INTERFACE�121314�12
1314�121314�

For some reason the list length here is 8 which is also the number of �s in the line.

 

The line below has 112 �s and returns a list of 113:

32020306370�60325.01�32011994804�2006-03-01�121226�CIPS Notes Historical - NCAL�
.32�12010034872��12010034872��1201400220020�����������Y�16
1898101�2006-03-01������������������������
�����������121140597����4�������2007-12-15 20:51
:00�12014����������1938672620060301154851P�Contact created via inter
face. (898101,1096539)��TRANSCRIPTION, INBOUND�N�121320���������ï¿
½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½2006-03-01��1400220020�

 

The following script shows the difference

 

set a "314185798�59858�2004-11-19�2004-11-19 23:08:00� KPFS-IN NCAL-INTERFACE�1213
14�121314�121314�"

puts  "number of fields =  [llength [split $a �]]"

puts  "num_data_fields [expr [llength [split $a �]] - 1]"

 

set b "32020306370�60325.01�32011994804�2006-03-01�121226�CIPS Notes Historical - 
NCAL�.32�12010034872��12010034872��1201400220020����������ï¿
½Y�161898101�2006-03-01���������������������ï¿
½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½121140597����4�������2007-12-1
5 20:51:00�12014����������1938672620060301154851P�Contact created vi
a interface. (898101,1096539)��TRANSCRIPTION, INBOUND�N�121320�������ï
¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½2006-03-01��1400220020�

"

 

puts  "number of fields =  [llength [split $b �]]"

puts  "num_data_fields [expr [llength [split $b �]] - 1]"

 

PRODUCES THE FOLLOWING OUTPUT

number of fields =  8

num_data_fields 7

number of fields =  113

num_data_fields 112

 

Can anyone explain

 

Gene Osteen

803-649-7486

 

Confidentiality Notice: The electronic mail and/or documents accompanying this transmission 
contain confidential information belonging to the sender, which is legally privileged. The i
nformation is intended only for the individual's) or entity named above. If you are not the 
intended recipient you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or tak
ing of any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited. If
 you have received this transmission in error, please immediately notify us by email or tele
phone to arrange for return or to destroy the original document. Thank You.