Single column data to multiple columns
This might work for you (GNU sed):
sed -r '/./!d;$!N;2{h;d};G;s/^(.*)\n(.*)\n(.*)\n(.*)$/\3 \1\n\4 \2/;$!{h;d}' file/./!dif the line does not contain a character delete it.$!Nif the line is not the last append a newline and the following line to the pattern space (PS).2{h;d}for the second line, copy the PS to the hold space(HS) and then delete it.Gfor all other lines append the HS to the PS.s/^(.*)\n(.*)\n(.*)\n(.*)$/\3 \1\n\4 \2/re-arrange the PS into the order that is required.$!{h;d}for all line except the last copy the PS to the HS and then delete the PS.This means that on encountering the last the line the contents of the PS will be printed out.