Scanning all elements of an array in GAWK returns numbers instead of values

Question

Given the following function:

function process_pipes(text)
{
    split(text,recs,"|");
    for (field in recs){
        printf ("|%s|\n", field)
    }
}

If the input is: 0987654321|57300|ERROR account number not found|GDUMARESQ|0199|9|N|0||

Why do I get the numbers below instead of the text?

|4|
|5|
|6|
|7|
|8|
|9|
|10|
|1|
|2|
|3|

Answer 1

Because

for ... in

gives you the keys. Use

printf("|%s|\n",recs[field]);

to get the values.

Answer 2

split creates an array recs in your code, and recs[1] == 0987654321, etc.

The for (field in recs) loop generates the list of indexes, not the array elements.

Hence, you need:

function process_pipes(text)
{
    split(text,recs,"|");
    for (field in recs){
        printf ("|%s|\n", recs[field])
    }
}