Hello,

I'm wondering where I could go to learn how to edit file sections that cross multiple lines. I'm wanting to write scripts that will add Gnome menu entries for all users on a system for scripts I write, etc. I can search an replace simple examples with sed, but this seems more complex.

I am on a 'doz system in a hotel right now so I can't post the actual file, but the Gnome menu entry has a structure similar to this:

Code:

<Menu>
    <Name>Accessibility</Name>
    <Directory>Accessibility.directory</Directory>
    <Include>
      <And>
        <Category>Accessibility</Category>
        <Not><Category>Settings</Category></Not>
      </And>
    </Include>
    <Exclude>
      <Filename>dasher.desktop</Filename>
    </Exclude>
  </Menu>

Say I need to change the markups for the dasher.desktop file from <Exclude> to <Include> and </Exclude> to </Include>?

What If I wanted to add a new <Include></Include> section for a new .desktop file?

Compounding this is that there is variable whitespace indentation depending on how deep into the structure one needs to go and it would be nice to keep the formatting for readability and a nicer, more polished look.

Basically, what is the technique for finding something, and then modifying something on lines above and/or below it OR finding a section, and then adding something on a line below that section without modifying that line in the process.

I don't mind learning myself, but I need pointed in the right direction. I'm not sure where to start. This seems like a bit of a big job for sed. If someone would want to code an example, I'm up for that too as I can learn from that (hey, learning is fun, right?)

With thanks,
Narnie