Stefano,

Thanks for your reply!

I want to write the modified data to another file.  Your solution was 
terrific!

I should have been clearer in the initial post about the long row of 
numbers.  That shouldn't have been part of the data sample, as its 
purpose was to document character spacing.

Thanks for the alternate solutions too.  You've provided this ruby 
newbie with lots of valuable tidbits!

Paul

-- 
Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.