How can several data blocks be transposed within a file? Each data block begins with a line '# description' and ends with two empty lines. A typical input file looks like this:
# block_01
Temp ST_01 ST_02 ST_03 ST_04
ag7 -0.0295167 0.0553285 0.00883727 0.392553
bc9 -0.0513702 0.0355596 -0.0165404 0.252816
cc9 -0.0303508 -0.00354388 0.0428582 0.0882037
cd3 -0.0239757 -0.0363891 0.0227775 0.270722
# block_02
Temp ST_01 ST_02 ST_03 ST_04
ag7.b -0.00284193 0.0260536 0.163357 -0.17291
bc9.b -0.0212977 0.0191269 0.0330521 -0.17346
cc9.b -0.0138837 -0.0220729 0.0814398 -0.0478094
cd3.f -0.053152 -0.0041982 -0.0948933 -0.020557
# block_03
Temp ST_01 ST_02 ST_03 ST_04
...
The desired output file after transposition should look as follows:
# block_01
Temp ag7 bc9 cc9 cd3
ST_01 -0.0295167 -0.0513702 -0.0303508 -0.0239757
ST_02 0.0553285 0.0355596 -0.00354388 -0.0363891
ST_03 0.00883727 -0.0165404 0.0428582 0.0227775
ST_04 0.392553 0.252816 0.0882037 0.270722
# block_02
Temp ag7.b bc9.b cc9.b cd3.f
ST_01 -0.00284193 -0.0212977 -0.0138837 -0.053152
ST_02 0.0260536 0.0191269 -0.0220729 -0.0041982
ST_03 0.163357 0.0330521 0.0814398 -0.0948933
ST_04 -0.17291 -0.17346 -0.0478094 -0.020557
# block_03
Temp ag7.b bc9.b cc9.b cd3.f
...
It does not necessarily have to be done only in gnuplot. Scripts in bash or awk are also welcome.
Here is a more general solution which is gnuplot-only (based on this solution) and works for multiple blocks each with different number of rows and columns.
Data: SO79102179.dat
# block_01
Temp a1 b1 c1 d1
A1 11 12 13 14
B1 21 22 23 24
C1 31 32 33 34
D1 41 43 43 44
E1 51 52 53 54
F1 61 62 64 64
# block_02
Temp a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2
A2 11 12 13 14 15 16
B2 21 22 23 24 25 26
C2 31 32 33 34 35 36
Script: (works for gnuplot>=5.4.0, because of with table if ...)
### transpose each of multiple blocks
reset session
FILE = "SO79102179.dat"
stats FILE u (B=column(-2)) nooutput # B = highest block index
do for [b=0:B]{
stats FILE index b u 0 nooutput # get max. number of rows and columns
R = STATS_records
C = STATS_columns
set datafile commentschar '' separator "\n"
set table $Transposed append
plot FILE index b u (_s=strcol(1)) w table if _s[1:1] eq '#' # write comment lines
unset table
set datafile commentschar '#' separator whitespace # restore default
set table $Transposed append
plot for [i=1:C] FILE index b u ($0==0 ? Line=strcol(i) : Line=Line.' '.strcol(i)) w table if $0==R-1, \
'+' every ::::1 u ('') w table # add two empty lines
unset table
}
print $Transposed
### end of script
Result:
# block_01
Temp A1 B1 C1 D1 E1 F1
a1 11 21 31 41 51 61
b1 12 22 32 43 52 62
c1 13 23 33 43 53 64
d1 14 24 34 44 54 64
# block_02
Temp A2 B2 C2
a2 11 21 31
b2 12 22 32
c2 13 23 33
d2 14 24 34
e2 15 25 35
f2 16 26 36