# Export nested table to a file

**URL:** <https://community.wolfram.com/t/export-nested-table-to-a-file/6229>\
**Category:** Questions\
**Tags:** mathematica\
**Created:** [July 21, 2015, 10:35am UTC](https://community.wolfram.com/t/export-nested-table-to-a-file/6229 "2015-07-21T10:35:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mitjajancic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@mitjajancic](https://community.wolfram.com/u/mitjajancic)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 10:35am UTC](https://community.wolfram.com/t/export-nested-table-to-a-file/6229/1 "2015-07-21T10:35:56Z")

</div>

I want to export a nested table to just any file would do the job. So .txt or .dat or .xls ,… anything.

The table is

```
final = Prepend[
   Table[{j, force[[j, 3]], 
     Table[{lengthall[[i + 1]], visinaallc[[i + 1]]*100, 
       optimumfall[[j, i]], F[N[lengthall[[i + 1]]]]}, {i, 1, 
       n - 4 + m, 1}]}, {j, 1, 3, 1}], {"Cell number [N]", 
    "Cell width [cm]", "Profile position [%]", "Profile height [cm]", 
    "Optimum ballooning [%]", "Spanwise force [N]"}];

```

and the result to the code above is… quite long:

```
{{"Cell number [N]", "Cell width [cm]", "Profile position [%]", 
  "Profile height [cm]", "Optimum ballooning [%]", 
  "Spanwise force [N]"}, {1, 
  34.78, {{1., 13.1772, 5.21612, 16.7935}, {2., 18.7884, 5.7396, 
    16.7935}, {3., 22.8883, 5.73783, 16.7935}, {4., 26.129, 5.62976, 
    16.7935}, {5., 28.78, 5.58411, 16.7935}, {6., 30.9876, 5.38298, 
    16.7935}, {7., 32.8434, 5.25782, 16.7935}, {8., 34.41, 5.17249, 
    16.7935}, {9., 35.7336, 5.11541, 16.7935}, {10., 36.8492, 5.04614,
     16.7935}, {11., 37.7853, 4.9356, 16.7935}, {12., 38.5649, 
    4.78775, 16.7935}, {13., 39.2077, 4.60811, 16.7935}, {14., 
    39.7308, 4.44532, 16.7935}, {15., 40.1492, 4.30505, 
    16.7935}, {16., 40.4766, 4.18489, 16.7935}, {17., 40.7255, 
    4.08309, 16.7935}, {18., 40.9076, 3.9976, 16.7935}, {19., 41.0343,
     3.92265, 16.7935}, {20., 41.1167, 6.40053, 26.6881}, {25., 
    41.0503, 6.29634, 26.6881}, {30., 40.3538, 6.37692, 
    26.6881}, {35., 39.2796, 6.54435, 26.6881}, {40., 37.7837, 
    3.64546, 16.1072}, {45., 35.7833, 3.7278, 16.1072}, {50., 33.3253,
     3.8508, 16.1072}, {55., 30.4736, 4.01936, 16.1072}, {60., 
    27.3038, 8.56674, 1.74148}, {65., 23.898, 9.56134, 1.74148}, {70.,
     20.3405, 10.7995, 1.74148}, {75., 16.7136, 12.3246, 
    1.74148}, {80., 13.0954, 11.0194, 5.91974}, {85., 9.55685, 
    12.5594, 5.91974}, {90., 6.16075, 14.3792, 5.91974}, {95., 
    2.96053, 16.5063, 5.91974}, {100., 0., 18.9619, 5.91974}}}, {2, 
  29.72, {{1., 13.1772, 6.30227, 16.7935}, {2., 18.7884, 6.38955, 
    16.7935}, {3., 22.8883, 6.08746, 16.7935}, {4., 26.129, 5.77556, 
    16.7935}, {5., 28.78, 5.56883, 16.7935}, {6., 30.9876, 5.27947, 
    16.7935}, {7., 32.8434, 5.07954, 16.7935}, {8., 34.41, 4.93164, 
    16.7935}, {9., 35.7336, 4.82119, 16.7935}, {10., 36.8492, 4.71512,
     16.7935}, {11., 37.7853, 4.59064, 16.7935}, {12., 38.5649, 
    4.44901, 16.7935}, {13., 39.2077, 4.29239, 16.7935}, {14., 
    39.7308, 4.15376, 16.7935}, {15., 40.1492, 4.03599, 
    16.7935}, {16., 40.4766, 3.93646, 16.7935}, {17., 40.7255, 
    3.85322, 16.7935}, {18., 40.9076, 3.78424, 16.7935}, {19., 
    41.0343, 3.72485, 16.7935}, {20., 41.1167, 4.3329, 26.6881}, {25.,
     41.0503, 4.20177, 26.6881}, {30., 40.3538, 4.22564, 
    26.6881}, {35., 39.2796, 4.30944, 26.6881}, {40., 37.7837, 
    3.87174, 16.1072}, {45., 35.7833, 4.03026, 16.1072}, {50., 
    33.3253, 4.25265, 16.1072}, {55., 30.4736, 4.5486, 16.1072}, {60.,
     27.3038, 8.39489, 1.74148}, {65., 23.898, 9.60291, 
    1.74148}, {70., 20.3405, 11.15, 1.74148}, {75., 16.7136, 13.1196, 
    1.74148}, {80., 13.0954, 17.4804, 5.91974}, {85., 9.55685, 
    21.2078, 5.91974}, {90., 6.16075, 25.9435, 5.91974}, {95., 
    2.96053, 31.9446, 5.91974}, {100., 0., 39.5358, 5.91974}}}, {3, 
  25.68, {{1., 13.1772, 11.3841, 16.7935}, {2., 18.7884, 9.49492, 
    16.7935}, {3., 22.8883, 8.16463, 16.7935}, {4., 26.129, 7.24228, 
    16.7935}, {5., 28.78, 6.60826, 16.7935}, {6., 30.9876, 6.07815, 
    16.7935}, {7., 32.8434, 5.69014, 16.7935}, {8., 34.41, 5.3948, 
    16.7935}, {9., 35.7336, 5.16612, 16.7935}, {10., 36.8492, 4.97713,
     16.7935}, {11., 37.7853, 4.80999, 16.7935}, {12., 38.5649, 
    4.65932, 16.7935}, {13., 39.2077, 4.5212, 16.7935}, {14., 39.7308,
     4.4058, 16.7935}, {15., 40.1492, 4.31152, 16.7935}, {16., 
    40.4766, 4.23505, 16.7935}, {17., 40.7255, 4.17382, 
    16.7935}, {18., 40.9076, 4.1255, 16.7935}, {19., 41.0343, 4.08673,
     16.7935}, {20., 41.1167, 3.44659, 26.6881}, {25., 41.0503, 
    3.34124, 26.6881}, {30., 40.3538, 3.36315, 26.6881}, {35., 
    39.2796, 3.43499, 26.6881}, {40., 37.7837, 3.37109, 
    16.1072}, {45., 35.7833, 3.5368, 16.1072}, {50., 33.3253, 3.76837,
     16.1072}, {55., 30.4736, 4.07748, 16.1072}, {60., 27.3038, 
    6.53227, 1.74148}, {65., 23.898, 7.51349, 1.74148}, {70., 20.3405,
     8.78497, 1.74148}, {75., 16.7136, 10.4254, 1.74148}, {80., 
    13.0954, 10.9868, 5.91974}, {85., 9.55685, 13.2053, 
    5.91974}, {90., 6.16075, 15.9992, 5.91974}, {95., 2.96053, 
    19.4936, 5.91974}, {100., 0., 23.8271, 5.91974}}}}

```

Now `final//TableForm` shows exactly what I want to export to the file. But `Export["filename.dat",final,"Table"]` doesn’t do the job. It exports the table in some strange form, where also “”{{}}“” brackets are included. I don’t like that. 😕  
I had problems with that before and usually `Flatten` did the job, but this time it helps to get rid of the brackets but at the same time it get’s rid of the columns too.😕  
Attached I am sending you the exported file.  
Any ideas on what can I do with it?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![henrikschachner](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/wolfram/user_avatar/community.wolfram.com/henrikschachner/32/32119_2.png) [@henrikschachner](https://community.wolfram.com/u/henrikschachner)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 11:42am UTC](https://community.wolfram.com/t/export-nested-table-to-a-file/6229/2 "2015-07-21T11:42:26Z")

</div>

Hi Mitja,

assuming `final` is your final result, try:

```
Export["filename.dat", ToString[TableForm@final]]

```

Regards – Henrik

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mitjajancic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@mitjajancic](https://community.wolfram.com/u/mitjajancic)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 12:04pm UTC](https://community.wolfram.com/t/export-nested-table-to-a-file/6229/3 "2015-07-21T12:04:10Z")

</div>

Hi,  
Your assumption is correct! And also your solution works perfectly. Attached I have the file as I wanted it. Just one more question, is it possible to align the columns with their headings?

EDIT: One more question that might not be related to this topic. `N[Pi,3]` works perfectly, but if I use an element from any table for example `N[table[[5]],3]` doesn’t work at all. Is there a reason why and a solution to this?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![henrikschachner](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/wolfram/user_avatar/community.wolfram.com/henrikschachner/32/32119_2.png) [@henrikschachner](https://community.wolfram.com/u/henrikschachner)\
**Post date:** [July 21, 2015, 1:54pm UTC](https://community.wolfram.com/t/export-nested-table-to-a-file/6229/4 "2015-07-21T13:54:50Z")

</div>

Well, one has to play around a little bit, using the documentation about `TableForm`, …

Anyway, here it is:

```
headings = final[[1]];
content = final[[2 ;;]];
Export["filename.dat", 
  ToString @ TableForm[{#1, #2, Sequence @@ Transpose[#3]} & @@@ content, TableHeadings -> {None, headings}]];

```

> N[table[[5]],3] doesn’t work at all.

It depends what `table` represents. E.g.:

```
table = Range[10];
N[table[[5]], 3]

```

works as expected.

Regards – Henrik

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mitjajancic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@mitjajancic](https://community.wolfram.com/u/mitjajancic)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 2:01pm UTC](https://community.wolfram.com/t/export-nested-table-to-a-file/6229/5 "2015-09-09T14:01:18Z")

</div>

Hi Henrik,

I apologize to open this topic again but it suddenly stopped working for no reason at all.

Currently my code is:

```
final = Table[{Prepend[
     Table[{j, force[[j, 3]], chordlength[[j]], force[[j, 4]], 
       profilelength[[i + 1]], optimumDensitySplitTop[[j, i]], 
       If[BeginCell < profilelength[[i + 1]] < EndCell, 
        StandardForm["Opening"], optimumDensitySplitBtm[[j, i]]], 
       norm[[j]]*
        DensityTop[[j]][profilelength[[i]]*chordlength[[j]]/10^4], 
       If[BeginCell < profilelength[[i + 1]] < EndCell, 
        StandardForm["Opening"], 
        norm[[j]]*
         DensityBtm[[j]][profilelength[[i]]*chordlength[[j]]/10^4]], 
       Abs[ptop[[j]][profilelength[[i + 1]]*chordlength[[j]]/10^4] - 
         pressure[[1, 2]]], 
       Abs[pbtm[[j]][profilelength[[i + 1]]*chordlength[[j]]/10^4] - 
         pressure[[1, 2]]]}, {i, 1, n - 10 + m, 
       1}], {"Cell number [N]", "Cell width [cm]", "Chord [cm]", 
      "Height factor", "Profile position [%]", "Ballooning Top [%]", 
      "Ballooning Btm [%]", "Force top[N/m]", "Force btm [N/m]", 
      "Presssure diff top [Pa]", "Presssure diff btm [Pa]"}]}, {j, 1, 
    Length[force[[All, 1]]], 1}];

```

And applying TableForm to that works really nicely, yet exporting with

```
Export["C:\\Users\\Mitja\\Documents\\nova\\2015\\results_\
constantForce.txt", ToString[TableForm@final]];

```

Doesn’t work at all. The exported file is attached.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dlkeith](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/wolfram/user_avatar/community.wolfram.com/dlkeith/32/31494_2.png) [@dlkeith](https://community.wolfram.com/u/dlkeith)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 5:17pm UTC](https://community.wolfram.com/t/export-nested-table-to-a-file/6229/6 "2015-09-09T17:17:21Z")

</div>

Hi Mitja,

You say “just any file.” If your only need is to read the data back into Mathematica, then you could use DumpSave to save the full definition to a file in a Wolfram-proprietary binary format, which can be read back into a Mathematica session with Get.

Best, David

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mitjajancic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@mitjajancic](https://community.wolfram.com/u/mitjajancic)\
**Post date:** [September 9, 2015, 6:10pm UTC](https://community.wolfram.com/t/export-nested-table-to-a-file/6229/7 "2015-09-09T18:10:45Z")

</div>

Nono I don’t want to read that file with Mathematica anymore!

This file, this huge table I called **final** , are my final results. I only need them in a .txt file because I have to send it to other people - who have no idea what Mathematica is. Nobody will ever work with those results in Mathematica again.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mitjajancic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@mitjajancic](https://community.wolfram.com/u/mitjajancic)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2015, 8:40am UTC](https://community.wolfram.com/t/export-nested-table-to-a-file/6229/8 "2015-09-10T08:40:51Z")

</div>

Ok, I have found the problem… It’s if sentence… If you replace StandardForm[“Opening”] with 0, everything works.