column selection with awk

_txt.column.select.awk

BEGIN {
    split(COLS,columns_array,",");
    for (i in columns_array){
	col=columns_array[i];
	n=split(col,range,"-");
	if (n>1) {
	    min=range[1];
	    max=range[2];
	    if (!min) {
		    min=1
		}
	    if (!max) {
		gotonf=1;
	    }
	    for (j=min;j<=max;j++)
		extended_array[k++]=j
	}
	else {
	    extended_array[k++]=col;
	}
    }

    # for (k=0;k < length(extended_array); k++) {
    # 	# printf("%s,",extended_array[k]);
    # }
    # print "";
    
}

{
    for (k=0;k < length(extended_array); k++) {
    	printf("%s ",$extended_array[k]);
    }
    if (gotonf){
	lastcol=min
	while (lastcol<=NF){
	    printf("%s ",$(lastcol++));
	}
    }
    print "";

}