passing argument into awk - Shell Programming and Scripting

prkfriryce · #1 (**permalink**) 02-01-2007

i'm trying to pass a numerical argument with function xyz to print specfic lines of filename, but my 'awk' syntax is incorrect.
ie

xyx 3 (prints the 3rd line, separated by ':' of filename)

Code:

function xyz() {
arg1=$1
cat filename | awk -F: -v x=$arg1 '{print $x}'
}

any ideas?

jim mcnamara · #2 (**permalink**) 02-01-2007

Change print $x to print x

prkfriryce · #3 (**permalink**) 02-01-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim mcnamara

Change print $x to print x

won't that only print out the number '3' and not the 3rd field??

I tried it anyway and i am still receiving

Code:

awk: syntax error near line 1
awk: bailing out near line 1

radoulov · #4 (**permalink**) 02-01-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by prkfriryce

won't that only print out the number '3' and not the 3rd line??
[...]

You mean the 3rd field?

Code:

$ cat filename
field1:field2:field3

$ function xyz() {
> awk -F: -v x="$1" '{print $x}' filename
> }

$ xyz 3
field3

If you want the 3rd line:

Code:

$ cat filename
line1
line2
line3

$ awk -F: -v x="3" 'NR==x' filename
line3

P.S. Given the error, it seems that you're using an old, broken awk,
on Solaris: /usr/bin/awk. In that case you can change the syntax like this:

Code:

awk -F: '{print $x}' x="$1" filename

But you'd better use nawk (/usr/bin/nawk) or /usr/xpg4/bin/awk.

prkfriryce · #5 (**permalink**) 02-01-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by radoulov

You mean the 3rd field?

Code:

$ cat filename
field1:field2:field3

$ function xyz() {
> awk -F: -v x="$1" '{print $x}' filename
> }

$ xyz 3
field3

If you want the 3rd line:

Code:

$ cat filename
line1
line2
line3

$ awk -F: -v x="3" 'NR==x' filename
line3

P.S. Given the error, it seams that you're using an old, broken awk,
on Solaris: /usr/bin/awk. In that case you can change the syntax like this:

Code:

awk -F: '{print $x}' x="$1" filename

But you'd better use nawk (/usr/bin/nawk) or /usr/xpg4/bin/awk.

yes i'm sorry I meant 'field' not line. I will try

Code:

$ cat filename
field1:field2:field3

$ function xyz() {
> awk -F: -v x="$1" '{print $x}' filename
> }

$ xyz 3
field3

and

Code:

awk -F: '{print $x}' x="$1" filename

when I get a chance

thanks

edit*

the second method works! Thanks!

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