I have a file with 3 columns like this I want to swap the entries of the Col1 and Col2 whenever there is in the third column. I want my output file to be like Answer Essentially, if $3=="<-", then swap the columns and redefine $3. Then print.

Swap two columns depending on condition for third column in linux

I have a file with 3 columns like this

  Col1         Col2          Col3 
   A            B             <-
   C            D             ->
   E            F             ->

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​x
 
  Col1         Col2          Col3    A            B             <-   C            D             ->   E            F             ->​

I want to swap the entries of the Col1 and Col2 whenever there is

<-

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<-​

in the third column. I want my output file to be like

 Col1         Col2          Col3 
   B            A             ->
   C            D             ->
   E            F             ->

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 Col1         Col2          Col3    B            A             ->   C            D             ->   E            F             ->​

awk '($3=="<-"){$3=$2;$2=$1;$1=$3;$3="->"}1' <file>

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awk '($3=="<-"){$3=$2;$2=$1;$1=$3;$3="->"}1' <file>​

Essentially, if $3=="<-", then swap the columns and redefine $3. Then print.