Write a table to a file

Question

I want to compute a multidimensional table in Mathematica and write it to an external file. Here is a simple example. I have three lists x, y, z and the output include all possible combinations of sums.

In the output file, I want 27 = 3x3x3 rows. Each row should have four values: x, y, z and x+y+z. Here is my code.

x = {1, 2, 3};
y = {4, 5, 6};
z = {7, 8, 9};
output = Table[x[[i]] + y[[j]] + z[[k]], {i, 1, 3}, {j, 1, 3}, {k, 1, 3}]
sfile = OpenWrite["C:\\Temp\\test.txt"]
For[i = 1, i <= 3, i++,
 {For[j = 1, j <= 3, j++,
   {For[k = 1, k <= 3, k++,
     Write[sfile, x[[i]], y[[j]], z[[k]], output[[i, j, k]]]]}]}]
Close[sfile]

The problem is there is no space in the output file. So I get something like

14712
14813
14914
15713
15814

but I actually want

1 4 7 12
1 4 8 13
1 4 9 14
1 5 7 13
1 5 8 14

I need help to get the format above. I am quite new to Mathematica and don't know much about other functions. I am OK with any functions as long as they can generate the output I want. Thank you.

Answer 1

As suggested by many (@YvesKlett, @acl) you can use Export :

output2 =  Flatten[Table[{x[[i]], y[[ j]], z[[k]], x[[i]] + y[[j]] + z[[k]]}, 
  {i, 1, 3}, {j, 1, 3}, {k, 1, 3}], 2] ;

Export["test.tsv", output2]

Answer 2

sfile = OpenWrite["~/Desktop/test.txt", FormatType -> StandardForm]
For[i = 1, i <= 3, i++, 
 For[j = 1, j <= 3, j++, 
  For[k = 1, k <= 3, k++, 
   Write[sfile, x[[i]], " ", y[[j]], " ", z[[k]], " ", 
    output[[i, j, k]]]]]]
Close[sfile]

seems to work. I used FormatType -> StandardForm and added the spaces by hand. I'm sure there are better ways (eg with Export).

Answer 3

Why not this?

x = {1, 2, 3};
y = {4, 5, 6};
z = {7, 8, 9};
output = Table[x[[i]] + y[[j]] + z[[k]], {i, 1, 3}, {j, 1, 3}, {k, 1, 3}]
sfile = OpenWrite["test.txt"]
For[i = 1, i <= 3, i++, For[j = 1, j <= 3, j++, For[k = 1, k <= 3, k++,
   str = ToString[{x[[i]], y[[j]], z[[k]], output[[i, j, k]]}];
   WriteString[sfile, StringReplace[str, "{" | "}" | "," -> ""] <> "\n"]
]]]
Close[sfile]

Or this?

...
sfile = OpenWrite["test.txt", FormatType -> StandardForm]
...
For[..., For[..., For[...,
   Write[sfile, Sequence @@ Riffle[{x[[i]], y[[j]], z[[k]], output[[i, j, k]]}, " "]]
]]]
...

After all this fun with streams, here is a one line solution (read comments after @b.gatessucks's solution, you need his output2):

output2 = Flatten[Table[{x[[i]], y[[j]], z[[k]], x[[i]] + y[[j]] + z[[k]]}, {i, 1, 3}, {j, 1, 3}, {k, 1, 3}], 2];
Export["test.dat", output2, "FieldSeparators" -> " "]

If you look at CSV, TSV and Table you'll find a lot of useful information.

Note that you don't need to put braces inside For like you would do i C.