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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.

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    $\begingroup$ Any reason for not using Export? Do you need sequential file operations? $\endgroup$
    – Yves Klett
    Mar 25, 2013 at 17:02
  • $\begingroup$ @YvesKlett I am new to Mathematica and this Write function is the one I found on google. I am ok with any functions. I don't have sequential operations. $\endgroup$
    – JACKY88
    Mar 25, 2013 at 17:06
  • $\begingroup$ This seems like a strange behavior of Write. Mathematica does not put a space between expressions. $\endgroup$
    – RunnyKine
    Mar 25, 2013 at 17:37

3 Answers 3

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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]
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  • $\begingroup$ that's the way to do it $\endgroup$
    – acl
    Mar 25, 2013 at 18:16
  • $\begingroup$ I feel picky: Patrick wanted spaces and you flooded him with tabs! :D $\endgroup$
    – Federico
    Mar 25, 2013 at 18:18
  • $\begingroup$ I was just joking. Of course you can do the tab->space conversion in a thousand ways. Maybe in 2013 even Microsoft Notepad can do that! $\endgroup$
    – Federico
    Mar 25, 2013 at 18:22
  • $\begingroup$ As a curiosity, Export["test.dat", output2, "FieldSeparators" -> " "] fulfills all the requirements. $\endgroup$
    – Federico
    Mar 25, 2013 at 18:26
  • $\begingroup$ @b.gatessucks -- Done. Given your name, I think you appreciated the pun about Notepad... $\endgroup$
    – Federico
    Mar 25, 2013 at 18:41
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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).

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  • $\begingroup$ I think (if I understood the question right) is that he wants a specific output format, likely for use in some other program. $\endgroup$
    – s0rce
    Mar 25, 2013 at 17:17
  • $\begingroup$ that is possible, looks like I misunderstood the question $\endgroup$
    – acl
    Mar 25, 2013 at 17:20
  • $\begingroup$ @s0rce fixed. not elegant though $\endgroup$
    – acl
    Mar 25, 2013 at 17:57
  • $\begingroup$ You could use Write[sfile, Sequence @@ Riffle[{x[[i]], y[[j]], z[[k]], output[[i, j, k]]}, " "]] to automatically intersperse whitespaces. $\endgroup$
    – Federico
    Mar 25, 2013 at 18:11
  • $\begingroup$ @Federico thanks; not sure it's worth the effort here though. $\endgroup$
    – acl
    Mar 25, 2013 at 18:13
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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.

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