extracting table from text files

[rickmac]

I have tables embedded in pure text files. I am trying to extract these tables of data and generate structured tables. the test files i am using do not embed tags or special delimiters, just uneven space.

text file example:
---------------------------------------------------------
X is the x axis defined as ............
Y is the iiiii
the area XY is the integral of ......
several points on line are as follows
X Y Z
------ ----- ------
a 1.2 3 2
b 3 2.2 11
c 4 1.2 2.1

a and b represent the base
however c may represent ..........
---------------------------------------------------------

how would i be able just to extract

X Y Z
------ ----- ------
a 1.2 3 2
b 3 2.2 11
c 4 1.2 2.1


from the text file?


any suggestions?

Thanks

[DataMystic Support]

Easy, just use EasyPatterns:

Search for:

[ capture( 1+ not space ), ' ',
capture( 1+ not space ), ' ',
capture( 1+ not space ), ' ',
....etc...
]

Replace with:

$1,$2,$3,$3