Sorting text tabular type data

[stayler]

Hi Guys,

I have an interesting puzzle that I'd like some advice on.  I have
several files that are organized into lines, each ending with a LF,
0x0a char.  There are 4 groups of characters in each line separated by
multiple (and variable number of) 0x20 'space' characters.  The first
three groups are simple strings, the last is a string but is numerical.

I'd like to strip out the excess spaces in each line and insert some
other delimiter, single space or comma perhaps. 

Filtering and sorting are the next step but I'd like to learn about
this first part.

Ideas, suggestions?

I am sure there is something quite simple to do this but I've rather
missed out on that part of my Linux education to my chagrin.

stayler