So... what have you tried? The algorithm is fairly simple: 

pseudo code:
     master_hash <- empty hash
     while more lines 
     readline
     line contains /^Product\s+(\d+)/?
         temp_hash <- empty_hash
         index_key <- $1 #see capture above
         while in product record
         do
             read line
             throw away if contains /^[\-]+$/
            
             if contains /=/
                split line on '=' 
                key <- field 0 
                value <- field 1 
                temp_hash[key] <- value 
             end if 
         done if line blank
         next if master_hash has $index_key
         master_hash[index_key] <- temp_hash
     done if last line

[download]
Now, I've given you enough to chew on and come up with your own code without writing it for you. I await your try/fail attempts. :-)

Peter L. Berghold -- Unix Professional
Peter -at- Berghold -dot- Net; AOL IM redcowdawg Yahoo IM: blue_cowdawg

In reply to Re: Removing Duplicates from a multiline entry by blue_cowdawg
in thread Removing Duplicates from a multiline entry by diamondsandperls

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