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Manipulating the etc/passwd file with sed

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Top Forums Shell Programming and Scripting Manipulating the etc/passwd file with sed
# 8  
Old 11-30-2009
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pauline mugisha
Thnx. That is easier
Easier than what?!

Easier than

Code:
awk '{ print $1, $6}' /etc/passwd

I hardly think so!

---------- Post updated at 12:30 AM ---------- Previous update was at 12:01 AM ----------

My apologies.

There is an error in the original awk:

Code:
awk -F: '{ print $1, $6}' /etc/passwd

# 9  
Old 11-30-2009
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pauline mugisha
Thnx. That is easier
sed is not the appropriate tool for this job, although it can do it, but the code it produce is ugly and hard to read due to extensive (or abusive) use of regex. Use awk and break the file rows into pieces using delimiters. That's the easiest way it can be.
# 10  
Old 12-01-2009
I agree with ghostdog. In situations where there is a clear field oriented format awk solutions usually provide more straightforward code. I disagree about the supposed ugliness and hard to read regex (and I do not get the abuse bit), but I like regex. Smilie
# 11  
Old 12-01-2009
Quote:
Originally Posted by Scrutinizer
I disagree about the supposed ugliness and hard to read regex (and I do not get the abuse bit), but I like regex. Smilie
you can take it that i mean hard to read and forget about the word "ugliness". regex is sure powerful, but too much of it in one place makes your code "hard to read". Its like reading an essay with words encoded in numbers. that's what i meant.
# 12  
Old 12-01-2009
Ofcourse awk is better. Wanted to know how to use sed as an option
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