AIX

Hi,
I have to insert a line having variables using sed. But the variables are not getting substituted within sed.

Ex:

Code:

n=2
sed $n' i\
hi' file

This works. But the below code does not work.

Code:

n=2
line=hello
sed $n' i\
$line' file

The above code inserts '$line' in the 2nd line of the file; instead I need to insert the value of $line, which is 'hello'

I even tried double quotes but it does not work.

Code:

n=2
line=hello
sed $n" i\
$line" file

Please help.

They are two different variable substitutions in sed. The first post was for inserting a line using sed at a specific line number, which was a variable.

Now, I am trying to insert a line, which has a variable in it, using sed. I did try the double quotes pointed out by you, but it did not work.

Code:

n=2
line=hi
sed $n" i\
$line" file

The error that I get is "sed: 0602-404 Function 2ihihihihi cannot be parsed."

Which sed on which platform?

AIX version 5.3
Even if you have any other solution other than sed, pls let me know

Ah, apparently AIX sed is more POSIX strict than GNU sed. Try escaping the backslash so that it gets passed literally, instead of escaping the newline:

Code:

n=2
line=hi
sed $n" i\\
$line" file

You are a UNIX Genius!!!
Thank you very much