how to grep for a word and display only the word

ananthmm · #1 (**permalink**) 11-30-2006

Hi,

When we "grep" for a word in a file, it returns the lines containing the word that we searched for. Is there a way to display only the words and not the entire line containing them.

Thanks

Ananth

ask.jackal · #2 (**permalink**) 11-30-2006

grep -o works on linux. Not sure of the Solaris/HP etc.

John Arackal

vino · #3 (**permalink**) 11-30-2006

Or you could use sed to get a grep -o effect.

Code:

sed -n -e "s/.*\(search string\).*/\1/p" input.txt

knowledge_gain · #4 (**permalink**) 06-19-2007

Using grep -o in linux, it gives the list wherever the pattern appears. The file
input_file has "Hello World
Hi Hello Hello Hello
Hello
Bye
"
for eg: grep -o "Hello" input_file
Hello
Hello
Hello
Hello
Hello

sed -n -e "s/.*\(Hello\).*/\1/p" input_file
But in using sed, it prints One Hello per line, becoz of \1.

Is it any other way to print same as in linux.

TIA

anbu23 · #5 (**permalink**) 06-20-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by knowledge_gain

Using grep -o in linux, it gives the list wherever the pattern appears. The file
input_file has "Hello World
Hi Hello Hello Hello
Hello
Bye
"
for eg: grep -o "Hello" input_file
Hello
Hello
Hello
Hello
Hello

sed -n -e "s/.*\(Hello\).*/\1/p" input_file
But in using sed, it prints One Hello per line, becoz of \1.

Is it any other way to print same as in linux.

TIA

Code:

sed -n -e "s/\(Hello\)/\1\\
/gp" file | sed -n -e "s/.*\(Hello\).*/\1/p"

Other UNIX.COM Threads You Might Find Helpful
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
find a word in a file, and change a word beneath it ??	vikas027	Shell Programming and Scripting	2	02-13-2008 12:23 PM
grep a word and display its column	Orbix	UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers	1	12-24-2007 04:32 PM
how to move word by word on command line	pbsrinivas	UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers	1	11-23-2007 02:17 AM
to display the word containing all of aeiou in a file.	arunsubbhian	UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers	1	09-09-2007 12:57 PM
Can a shell script pull the first word (or nth word) off each line of a text file?	tricky	Shell Programming and Scripting	5	08-17-2006 03:29 AM

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode