[quote=radoulov;302324253]The braces limit the scope of the following code to the previously matched records (the records that satisfy the range pattern).
So, the G command (append the hold space to the pattern space, in this case the hold space is empty so you get only the newline character)
will apply on for the records that match the pattern /;/ (the last line of your paragraph).

quote]


i understand that the /;/ as part of /;/G means that newline will go after the semicolum... BUT...

i'm refering to the following semicolum , between the G and p

Code:

 
{/;/G;p}

Also..... if {coding} limits the scope to the previous command.... is that the same as using the -e to apply code to just previously execute expression?

Code:

 
sed -e '/select/I,/,/;/!d' -e '/;/G'

Thanks again for your patience with my questions.

-----Post Update-----


Thanks, the first worked, but the /I,/ didn't work...

but i had to add back after the select [ ]*$ because: (which works for 1 & 2 below but not 3)

1. i don't want to catch occurences of where select is part of word, (e.g. selection)

2. i want to catch when select is the only word on the line.

3. i want to catch when select is not the only word on the line, and is followed by a space

***** see that i've modified the test data to show you *****

Code:

 
sed -n '/[Ss][Ee][Ll][Ee][Cc][Tt][ ]*$/,/;/{/;/G;p;}'