Re^3: How to concatenate a generic array of arrays and an array of hashes

OK, here's some code that does what you want. I've not included the part that reads the data.

#!/usr/bin/perl

use warnings;
use strict;
use List::Util qw/max/;

my $VAR1 = {
  'sample.txt' => [
    'Line_1_3long',
    'Line_2_3'
  ],
  'sample_2.txt' => [
    'Line_3_3longer'
  ],
  'sample_3.txt' => [
    'Line_4_3',
    'Line_5_3',
    'Line_6_3evenlonger',
    'Line_7_3',
  ]
};

my %maxlength = ();
foreach my $key (sort keys %$VAR1) {
  $maxlength{$key} = max map { length } @{$VAR1->{$key}};
}

my $maxelements = max map { $#$_ } values %$VAR1;

foreach my $line (0..$maxelements) {
  foreach my $key (sort keys %$VAR1) {
    if($line >= @{$VAR1->{$key}}) {
      print " " x ($maxlength{$key} + 1);
    } else {
      print $VAR1->{$key}->[$line];
      print " " x ($maxlength{$key} - length($VAR1->{$key}->[$line]) +
+ 1);
    }
  }
  print "\n";
}
[download]

This prints:

$ perl test.pl
Line_1_3long Line_3_3longer Line_4_3
Line_2_3                    Line_5_3
                            Line_6_3evenlonger
                            Line_7_3
$
[download]

Notes:

If you know your pieces of data are always going to be the same length, you can leave out the %maxlength computation, and replace $maxlength{$key} by this known value.
You might be able to use formats (see perlform), but I have literally zero experience with them and couldn't say.

I hope this helps. My bill for an hour (rounded up) of paid consultant work's in the mail. :)

Comment on Re^3: How to concatenate a generic array of arrays and an array of hashes Select or Download Code

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Re^4: How to concatenate a generic array of arrays and an array of hashes by Cristoforo (Curate) on Jul 07, 2014 at 19:00 UTC
Could use Text::Table for the output. Using an array of arrays, (also could use hash of arrays with a few adjustments to the code). `#!/usr/bin/perl use strict; use warnings; use Text::Table; use List::Util 'max'; my @final = ( [ 'Line_1_3', 'Line_2_3' ], [ 'Line_3_3' ], [ 'Line_4_3', 'Line_5_3', 'Line_6_3', 'Line_7_3' ] ); my $max_idx = max map $#$_, @final; my $tb = Text::Table->new; for my $i (0 .. $max_idx) { $tb->add( map $final[$_][$i], 0 .. $#final); } print $tb` [download] The hash method. `#!/usr/bin/perl use strict; use warnings; use Text::Table; use List::Util 'max'; my %final = ( 'sample.txt' => [ 'Line_1_3long', 'Line_2_3' ], 'sample_2.txt' => [ 'Line_3_3longer' ], 'sample_3.txt' => [ 'Line_4_3', 'Line_5_3', 'Line_6_3evenlonger', 'Line_7_3', ] ); my $max_idx = max map $#$_, values %final; my $tb = Text::Table->new; for my $i (0 .. $max_idx) { $tb->add( map $final{$_}[$i], sort keys %final); } print $tb` [download]	[reply] [d/l] [select]
Re^5: How to concatenate a generic array of arrays and an array of hashes by AppleFritter (Vicar) on Jul 07, 2014 at 19:35 UTC
Wow, nice, thanks for the pointer. That's a module I'll have to remember.	[reply]
Re^5: How to concatenate a generic array of arrays and an array of hashes by thanos1983 (Parson) on Jul 08, 2014 at 00:34 UTC
Dear Christoforo, Respect, I was starting to get the impression that my problem can not be solved. I tried infinite possible solutions. I am not expert on perl, maybe not even moderate operator in comparison to so many people here. I have been trying like crazy 5 days to solve it, and so far not successful. Thanks a lot, I was about to give up. Seeking for Perl wisdom...on the process...not there...yet!	[reply]
Re^6: How to concatenate a generic array of arrays and an array of hashes by Cristoforo (Curate) on Jul 08, 2014 at 01:00 UTC
Hello thanos1983 I'm glad to help. The more one uses and reads about perl, the better they get at it. Your problem was interesting to solve. Feel free to ask for help anytime and, if I can contribute, I'll be happy to do so!	[reply]
Re^4: How to concatenate a generic array of arrays and an array of hashes by thanos1983 (Parson) on Jul 07, 2014 at 14:11 UTC
Hello AppleFritter, Hmmm this is interesting, I will have ago and see what I can make out of it. Thank you for your time and effort to assist me with my question. Seeking for Perl wisdom...on the process...not there...yet!	[reply] [d/l]
Re^5: How to concatenate a generic array of arrays and an array of hashes by AppleFritter (Vicar) on Jul 07, 2014 at 19:35 UTC
tips hat You're welcome!	[reply]