Delete records that have duplicate text strings

volker_von-einem · Jun 28, 2005#12005-06-28T13:54+00:00

UltraEdit/UltraCompare question.....

I know how to sort the following text file using specific columns, however, I need your help in deleting entire records anytime matches are found when examining specified columns (columns 1-11 in example). For example, after some unknown procedure is complete, I would like to just have the one record (Kelly Smith) left.

-----------sample file -------------
Eddie Smith
Eddie Smith likes soda
Kelly Smith likes crackers
Mikie Smith
Mikie Smith likes food
Steve Smith
Steve Smith likes cola

Mofi · Sep 24, 2005#22005-09-24T21:29+00:00

Maybe 3 months too late, but I think, I have now understand what you want. Here is a macro which does the job. But there is one restriction for this solution: The first 11 characters of all lines must have non of the characters, which are special characters for a regular expression in UltraEdit style. This condition is true for your example.

InsertMode
ColumnModeOff
HexOff
UnixReOff
Bottom
IfColNum 1
Else
"
"
EndIf
Top
Clipboard 9
Loop
Find RegExp "%???????????"
IfNotFound
ExitLoop
EndIf
StartSelect
Copy
EndSelect
Key HOME
ToggleBookmark
Key DOWN ARROW
Find RegExp "%^c"
IfFound
GotoBookMark
ToggleBookmark
Find RegExp "%^c*^p"
Replace All ""
Else
GotoBookMark
ToggleBookmark
Key DOWN ARROW
EndIf
EndLoop
ClearClipboard
Clipboard 0
UnixReOn

Remove the last red command, if you use regular expression in UltraEdit style by default instead of Unix style - see Advanced - Configuration - Find - Unix style Regular Expressions. UnixReOn/UnixReOff modifies this setting.