try this

kill `ps -ef |awk '/xterm/ && !/'$$'/' | awk '{print $2}'`

ps aux | grep $1 | awk '{system("kill " $2);}'

I put this in a script named KillAll, then call the script with the string I want to filter for. But, be careful, it doesn't care where it finds your search string, it will kill anything with the string anywhere in the results of ps aux. The script could be easily improved.

-Jmt

This may work

kill `ps -ef |awk '/xterm/ && !/'$$'/' | awk '{print $2}'`

JMT and Kundunni,

thank you both a lot for your replies. I'll try your solutions as soon as I get to my work.

I am sure JMT's solution will work since I understand what his command exactly does.

But kundunni, I'd highly appreciate it if you explain your command.

BTW, seeing your posts.. I'm thinking is this:
kill -9 `ps -fu | grep "xterm" | awk '{print $2}'`
would work?

awaiting your reply.

Regards
Indrajit

In ksh:

ps -eaf | grep xterm | grep -v grep | while read a b c ; do
kill $b
done

Don't you have to specify the username along with ps -fu ?