I need help in sorting a text file

[reble]

I am a bad speller. So I have a small note pad that I have been writing hard to spell words in as I get the right spelling on each word. As time goes on and I look up a word in the note pad my spelling is getting better. The note pad is a hodgepodge of words, no order of any kind to them, it is sometimes hard to find a word that I know is in there in that mess. The note pad is about 3/4th full now. So I started at page 1 typing the words into a rtf file using Wordpad. The file has 2 columns, see the attached screen capture, when I am done typing all the words in. I want to sort the 2 columns as such. The left column starts at the top with the 1st letter of the 1st word (A) then going down the left column in alphabetical order. About half way the sorting takes up at the top of right column in alphabetical order to (Z). So that way I can use the file search to find the word. I don't know if this setup is possible. If not does anyone have any ideas?
If this makes me look like a stupid clod, so be it.

Steve

 

[samuria]

Have you got a spreadsheet as it's simple to do in that?

 

[billmcct]

you can use EditPad Lite. It's free. Look under Extras on toolbar for sorting function.
Windows Text Editor Free Download

 

[TechnoMage2016]

I'm pretty good at spelling, but....at least once a day I question my own spelling of some obscure word.
It's easy here, and in most forums, because my Firefox has a built in Spell Checker.

But for other uses, I use two different methods to check the spelling or meaning of a word.

The first method is to open I.E. (which I seldom use) and just type in the word in the search bar. In seconds the search engine (I use http://www.startpage.com) will come up with the correct spelling for me.

Another method I use is a Webster's LARGE PRINT, 'Home, School, Office' dictionary that I keep right
here on my computer desk. I use that when I'm NOT on the internet.

I'd think that having to open up a text file, or even a spreadsheet, and then search for a particular word, would be very time consuming and then counter productive if the word I wanted was not there.

I applaud your inventiveness, but it sounds like you're trying to re-invent the Dictionary. Webster beat you to it. :sarc:

Cheers Mate!
TechnoMage

 

[Megahertz07]

As Samuria mentioned, on a spreadsheet it is quite simple to do it.

Why don't you use a free dictionary instead of the text file?
I use WordWeb WordWeb: English dictionary, thesaurus, and word finder software.
Always answer you never had an airplane flew (to remain as free)

 

[reble]

to Billmcct, I will look at EditPad Lite.

To Samuria, I don't have spreadsheet. My MS office disk went belly up and I just haven't the time and money to replace it.

Have you got a spreadsheet as it's simple to do in that?

To Megahertz07, I use spellcheck in Firefox. About 20% of the time I am so far off on the spelling because my pronunciation of a word is so far off that Firefox or TinySpell (a prog that runs in the background and catch's miss spelled words and lets me know) can't figure out what I am saying. The note pad Started out as a backup for words that my pronunciation is so far off that I had to use the word in a sentence. And sometimes I still couldn't find it and I had to ask my room mate. He is an excellent speller. The word file when I am done entering the words. The file is going on my Android tablet. Android Firefox isn't as nimble as Windows Firefox.

As Samuria mentioned, on a spreadsheet it is quite simple to do it.

Why don't you use a free dictionary instead of the text file?
I use WordWeb WordWeb: English dictionary, thesaurus, and word finder software.
Always answer you never had an airplane flew (to remain as free)

To TechnoMage2016, I am not trying to re-invent the Dictionary. This is just a backup. I have had to learn in the school of hard knocks. Keep backups for everything.

I applaud your inventiveness, but it sounds like you're trying to re-invent the Dictionary. Webster beat you to it

 

[reble]

A PS: I have been looking for a free word processor that isn't bundled with a bunch of other progs like Excel, Power Point, Office Online and Outlook that meets my needs. I just need the word processor. I am retired. I have no need to keep such files that need the other prog's that come bundled.

 

[reble]

I opened the text file in EditPad Lite and this is what I got. see the attached file. This looks like a raw HTML file to me. The original file is RTF. I looked over the prog and I can't get rid of the coding info.

 

[Snick]

The best free word processor 2018

If you still have your M$ Office product key you can download a fresh copy if Office from Microsoft.

 

[Megahertz07]

If you still have your M$ Office product key you can download a fresh copy if Office from Microsoft.

I can try to send a MS office download link if you tell us what is the version and language you want.

 

[mrjimphelps]

Download and install Libre Office -- it's free. Open Libre Office Calc, and open a new spreadsheet. Copy each column of words, and paste them into the new Calc spreadsheet, so that you end up with one column containing all of the words. Now sort that column.

 

[iko22]

Copy each column of words, and paste them into the new Calc spreadsheet, so that you end up with one column containing all of the words. Now sort that column.

Doesn't quite work, as Ive tried this myself before. When I go to copy the words, When I drag mouse down to include next line, the blue highlight goes to the end of line and automatically includes end of line.

To separate the columns in a spreadsheet, first you need to add a comma at the end of every word, and then save documnet as a (.txt) text file, and then open this modified file in the spreadsheet. Then you can highlight a column and cut and paste it where you want.

I opened the text file in EditPad Lite and this is what I got. see the attached file. This looks like a raw HTML file to me. The original file is RTF. I looked over the prog and I can't get rid of the coding info.

Select Find and Replace, and enter "\par" in the find box (without the double quotes), and enter " " (without the double quotes) in the replace box. Then select "Replace All" or use "Replace Next" repeatedly.

 

[mrjimphelps]

You should be able to highlight and copy an entire column in the text file, then click on one cell in the spreadsheet, then choose Paste. You don't need to drag the mouse down to include the next line; Calc should paste each word into its own separate cell.

 

[iko22]

Nope, I tried again, it wont do a column for me, as the highlight automatically includes the entire line when I move the cursor down.



From the picture, if I were to highlight A1, then move the cursor to the end of D1 all the labels on the right side also get highlighted (this is in Word).

I think I can highlight all the text and then do "Insert Table" followed by "Convert Text to Table" that separates into columns that way.

 

[reble]

I didn't know I could get a replacement MS office by saving the product key. Anyways It was MS office 97 and in English. I threw out the cd and scraped the product key off the jewel case when the cd went bad.

I can try to send a MS office download link if you tell us what is the version and language you want.

 

[billm5]

A PS: I have been looking for a free word processor that isn't bundled with a bunch of other progs like Excel, Power Point, Office Online and Outlook that meets my needs. I just need the word processor. I am retired. I have no need to keep such files that need the other prog's that come bundled.

What functionality do you need? Is WordPad sufficient?

Or... Word Starter of course is bundled with Excel Starter as Microsoft Office Starter, but the other apps in that bundle don't get in the way... and it ships free with many Win7 machines... "gentle overkill"

 

[reble]

WordPad almost foots the bill. WordPad's default font is Calibri and size is 11. I would like to change the default font and size. WordPad doesn't have the sort cmd period. And WordPad can only read TXT and RTF files. WordPad doesn't know what to do with the codes that are in *.doc and*.docx and so on. And when you said "Word Starter" it triggered a memory about an old word processor that I used to use called "Word Star". Word Star back then was a freeware stand alone word processor. If it still is, I have no ides.

What functionality do you need? Is WordPad sufficient?

Or... Word Starter of course is bundled with Excel Starter as Microsoft Office Starter, but the other apps in that bundle don't get in the way... and it ships free with many Win7 machines... "gentle overkill"

 

[reble]

Word Starter didn't come with the copy of Windows 7 Home that I have. I got this Win7 at Walmart about 4 to 5 yrs ago.

 

[reble]

I have downloaded Libre Office and installed it. I have learned how to make the 2 columns ( now I have learned to spell column without having to looking it up. That's how I learn new things, hands on). But I still can't select and copy just the left column of words I can only highlight and copy both columns on a single page.

 

[br4]

When you do the copy from the text file into the spreadsheet application are you getting both columns in only one column? If so, and to be expected, you need to do the LibreOffice equivalent of 'text to columns' to split your two columns into the two spreadsheet columns. I don't use LO, but a quick search shows to use Data / Text to Columns.