# File Append Problem

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/file-append-problem/109976>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [July 20, 2007, 9:10pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/file-append-problem/109976 "2007-07-20T21:10:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![turnkeytraders](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@turnkeytraders](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/turnkeytraders)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2007, 9:10pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/file-append-problem/109976/1 "2007-07-20T21:10:11Z")

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Hello,

I am reading a csv file (File1) and putting its content into a string,  
then I append that string in another csv file (file2) that has some data  
in it already. Now I do not want to overwrite the data in file2 so i’ve  
opened file2 in append mode, and the string from file1 is appended to  
file2, but, I lose some characters in the first line of my string, it  
looks almost like the first line of my string from file1 is trying to  
overwrite the last line in file2 but it doesn’t. My string just loses  
the same amount of characters of the number of characters from my last  
line that was already in file2. Long story short, It won’t append  
correctly.

Here is the code:

File.new(rightfile,“w”)

fileNew = File.open(rightfile,“w”)  
fileNew.puts  
‘“email”,“source”,“ip”,“data\_timestamp\_proper”,“firstname”,“lastname”’

str = IO.read(outfile)

fileAppend = File.open(rightfile,“a”)  
fileAppend.puts str

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![turnkeytraders](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@turnkeytraders](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/turnkeytraders)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2007, 10:30pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/file-append-problem/109976/2 "2007-07-20T22:30:14Z")

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On 2007-07-21 04:10:22 +0900 (Sat, Jul), Matthew L. wrote:

> line that was already in file2. Long story short, It won’t append  
> str = IO.read(outfile)
> 
> fileAppend = File.open(rightfile,“a”)  
> fileAppend.puts str

Have you debugged what is the contents of str ?  
Maybe the problem is not in appending but reading?

If this is the exact code you run, then you are opening the file three  
times, without closing it or flushing its buffers:

First: File.new(rightfile,‘w’)  
Second: File.open(rightfile,‘w’)  
Third: File.open(rightfile,‘a’)

I suggest something like:

File.open( rightfile, ‘w’) do |f|  
f.puts ‘“email”,“source”…’  
end

str = IO.read(outfile)

File.open( rightfile, ‘a’) do |f|  
f.puts str  
end

but it may be shortened to just:

File.open( rightfile, ‘w’ ) do |right|  
right.puts ‘“email”,"…"’  
str = IO.read( outfile )  
right.puts str  
end

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![turnkeytraders](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@turnkeytraders](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/turnkeytraders)\
**Post date:** [July 20, 2007, 11:10pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/file-append-problem/109976/3 "2007-07-20T23:10:26Z")

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> File.open( rightfile, ‘w’ ) do |right|  
> right.puts ‘“email”,"…"’  
> str = IO.read( outfile )  
> right.puts str  
> end

Oh i see now, I have got to stop programming so structured. Thanks alot!