I have a file which contains 1 million records of the following format. Each field is delimited by a pipe tilda pipe "|~|" show below. I would like to print only one column ie the CARDDESC value.

for example here it says CARDDESC=A8T1.
so anything after CARDDESC= and before |~|CARDTYPE is what I would like to get from this record and ignore everything else.

In other words the value between CARDDESC= and |~|CARDTYPE which in the following example is A8T1 is what I need to know.

Any help is really appreciated. if my question is not clear please let me know I will try to phrase it in a better way.

Each filed is delimited by |~| that is for sure through out the file. so even if I can get CARDDESC=A8T1 I am happy.

RECORD=NEW|~|NAME=SCO|~|MODEL=8220|~|WORK=ATM|~|SUBNET=ATM|~|SITE=RKS|~|REGION=NORTH A|~|COUNTRY=US|~
|SWITCH=FAX2|~|ETHERNET=1.4.1.1|~|LOOPB=N/A|~|SHELF=N/A|~|SLOT=12|~|SUBSLOT=N/A|~|STSCHAN=N/A|~|PORT=8|~|DS1SLOT=0|~|LINE=1|~|LPORTID=0|~|C
ARDDESC=A8T1|~|CARDTYPE=0|~|ENCAPSULATION=N/A|~|BUNDLEID=0|~|PORTUSE=N/A|~|STATUS=T|~|MANAGED=YES|~|BILLINGID=N/A|~|CKTID=W86|~|CKTIP=1.0.0.1
7|~|PORTSERVICE=T1|~|SPEED=6|~|CHNLS=N/A|~|NX_Y=83|

Whoever devised that particular file format should be taken out and shot.

Is the field always in the same column?

 awk -F '\|~\|' '{ print $20 }'

I believe this will not give what the OP had asked for

Oh! Really

Then I recommend you to take a look at the library formats ( bibliography formats ) am sure you would come back and say much better

Works for me on Linux (I guess gawk, or actually mawk). matrixmadhan's solution is closer to the real McCoy so use that if it works for you.

Or even, how about this.

sed -n 's/.*|~|CARDDESC=//; T; s/|~|.*//p'

Thanks ERA and MATRIXMADHAN.

/usr/local/bin/awk -F"CARDDESC=" '{ split($2, arr, "|"); print arr[1] }' t1
A8T1

now would you be kind enough try to explain what it really did.

I have gone with what matrixmadhan recommended

Peace !!!

I wouldnt agree with you more about the format. I hate it when people do that. and yes the filed is always going to be in the same column

which awk
/usr/bin/awk
awk -F '\|~\|' '{ print $20 }' RECORD
awk: syntax error near line 1
awk: bailing out near line 1

/usr/local/bin/awk -F '\|~\|' '{ print $20 }' RECORD
|CARDDESC=A8T1|

/usr/local/bin/awk -F "|~|" '{print $20}' CIRCUITRECORD
|CARDDESC=A8T1|

same result

The output contains a "pipe" symbol which is ok but can that be taken out from the output. I am happy with the results but just wondering.

Thanks ERA in advance for your help