Try this:

ph_hashes = Hash.new("no phrase").merge({
  :item1 => "phrase 1",
  :item2 => "phrase 2",
  :item3 => "phrase 3"
})

File.open("yourfile_o.txt","w") do |file|
  file.write File.open("yourfile.txt").readlines.join("\n").gsub(/([^\|]+)\|/){
"#{(v=$1.strip) + " " + ph_hashes[v.to_sym]}\n"}
end

On Tue, May 6, 2008 at 8:34 AM, Zoe Phoenix <dark_sgtphoenix / hotmail.com> wrote:
> I have a text file that I want to add some content to, but I'm not sure
>  how to use the file as input.  I have a list of things in the file that
>  is formatted like
>
>
>  item1 | item2 | item3 | item4 |
>
>  and etcetera... How can I take these items and put each of them on a new
>  line, minus the "|" and add a certain phrase afterward?  Like:
>
>  item1 [phrase]
>  item2 [phrase]
>  item3 [phrase]
>
>  Is there a simple way to do this?  I've taken lists of things like this
>  before and added text to it, but I put all of the items in an array
>  manually first... would someone show me a faster way, please?
>  --
>  Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.
>
>



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