unix - count of columns in file

Question

Given a file with data like this (i.e. stores.dat file)

sid|storeNo|latitude|longitude
2|1|-28.03720000|153.42921670
9|2|-33.85090000|151.03274200
         


        

Answer 1

If you have python installed you could try:

python -c 'import sys;f=open(sys.argv[1]);print len(f.readline().split("|"))' \
    stores.dat