Скачать или смотреть How to Compare 2 Files with Random Numbers in Non-Sequential Order Using AWK and Python

Learn how to effectively compare two files with random numbers in a non-sequential order, ignoring zeros and identifying unique entries in both files.
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How to Compare 2 Files with Random Numbers in Non-Sequential Order

When working with datasets, it's common to encounter the need for file comparison, especially with random numbers that may not be in sequential order. This challenge can become complicated by the presence of leading zeros in numeric entries. Today, we'll explore a straightforward method to compare two files, compare1.txt and compare2.txt, that contain these random numbers and help you identify discrepancies.

The Problem

You have two text files containing random numbers:

compare1.txt:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

compare2.txt:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Objectives

Identify Numbers Unique to Each File:

List numbers in compare1.txt that are not in compare2.txt.

List numbers in compare2.txt that are not in compare1.txt.

Ignore Leading Zeros:

Treat numbers like 3 and 003 as the same.

Numbers like 014 and 14 are also the same.

The expected output should thus highlight discrepancies without worrying too much about the order.

The Solution

To solve the comparison problem, we can use AWK, a powerful text-processing tool available in many Unix-like systems. Here is the code that accomplishes the task:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Code Breakdown

Step-by-Step Explanation

Initialization: We start the AWK program and preprocess each line by adding 0, which effectively converts the strings with leading zeros to numeric values, thus removing the zeros.

Input File 1 Handling: Using FNR==NR, we check if we're processing the first file. For every number ($0) read, we store it in an array a[].

Processing Input File 2:

If the current number exists in array a, we store it in array b[] and skip further processing for that line.

If the number does not exist in b[], we print it, indicating that it's unique to compare2.txt.

Final Results: After both input files are processed, we traverse array a[] and print any numbers that were not found in array b[], thus listing the unique numbers in compare1.txt.

Running the Code

To execute this script:

Make sure you have AWK available on your system.

Open a terminal.

Save the two comparison files (compare1.txt and compare2.txt) in your working directory.

Run the AWK command as shown above.

Example Output

From the provided sample files, the expected output would be:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Alternative Approaches

If you prefer or require a Python solution, you can achieve the same result using a simple Python script. Here's a basic implementation:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This Python script reads both files into sets, automatically handling the comparisons correctly while ignoring leading zeros due to integer conversion.

Conclusion

Comparing files with random numbers in a non-sequential order does not have to be a daunting task. By utilizing utilities such as AWK or programming languages like Python, you can efficiently identify discrepancies in your datasets, streamlining your data management needs.

Feel free to experiment with the provided scripts and adapt them to your specific requirements!