best way to insert a line at the top of a file?

fedora · #1 (**permalink**) 02-09-2009

say I want to insert "this is a test" as the first line into file A, besides

echo "this is a test" > /tmp/tmpfile

cat /tmp/tmpfile fileA >> /tmp/result,

is there any simple way I can do it? thanks

quirkasaurus · #2 (**permalink**) 02-09-2009

you mean on a file that's already there???

if the file in question isn't so huge it crashes vi, try this:

Code:


vi file << EOF
OWhatever you want as first line
^[:wq!
EOF

Where the ^[ is actually the ESCAPE character entered ( through vi ) with
CONTROL-V and ESC.

quirkasaurus · #3 (**permalink**) 02-09-2009

but honestly.... no, there isn't a better way.

Neo · #4 (**permalink**) 02-09-2009

Also, see this older thread:

Insert a line as the first line into a very huge file

fedora · #5 (**permalink**) 02-09-2009

thanks, just wondering if there is a better way can be used to do this.

Neo · #6 (**permalink**) 02-09-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by fedora

thanks, just wondering if there is a better way can be used to do this.

"Better" is "relative" (and does not have much context)

If you like PERL, then a perl solution is "better".....

What do you mean by "better" ?

Gee-Money · #7 (**permalink**) 02-09-2009

you can use the sed "insert" comand:

Code:

the_prompt$ cat thefile

returns:

Code:

line1
line2
line3

Code:

the_prompt$ sed -e '1 i \the line you wanna put first' thefile

returns:

Code:

the line you wanna put first
line1
line2
line3

More UNIX and Linux Forum Topics You Might Find Helpful
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
help with insert line into file	tarunicon	UNIX for Advanced & Expert Users	4	10-13-2008 09:06 AM
Insert a line in a text file	4scriptmoni	Shell Programming and Scripting	10	08-04-2008 10:17 AM
Insert line into file	vinay123	Shell Programming and Scripting	3	07-01-2008 03:07 AM
insert a line in a file	RishiPahuja	Shell Programming and Scripting	7	06-22-2005 03:47 AM
Insert a line as the first line into a very huge file	shriek	UNIX for Advanced & Expert Users	3	03-09-2005 01:22 AM

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