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Text pattern with AWK and variables

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# 1  
Old 02-28-2011
Text pattern with AWK and variables
How to to pass variable to the below awk command
I would like to pass variables to the awk command instead of the constants "a/cc" but I don't know exactly the correct syntax
Code:
awk '/a/,/cc/' temp1.out

file.txt
Code:
a
b
s
cc
g
d

output
Code:
a
b
s
cc

I've tried the following but doesn't make sense!

Code:
$ var=a
$ echo $var | awk '/$1/,/cc/' temp1.out
$ awk -v VAR=$var '/$VAR/,/cc/' temp1.out

Please help

Moderator's Comments:
Mod Comment Please use [code] and [/code] tags when posting code, data or logs etc. to preserve formatting and enhance readability, thanks.
Last edited by zaxxon; 02-28-2011 at 09:24 AM.. Reason: code tags
# 2  
Old 02-28-2011
Code:
VAR=a

awk -v var=$VAR '$0 ~ var,/cc/' temp1.out

# or
awk "/${VAR}/,/cc/" temp1.out

# or
awk '/'${VAR}'/,/cc/' temp1.out

# 3  
Old 02-28-2011
Code:
 
va1="a"
va2="cc"
awk  '/'$va1'/,/'$va2'/' input_file

# 4  
Old 02-28-2011
You really want to avoid expanding shell parameters into awk code unless you are absolutely sure that they will not contain any characters that are special to awk. When possible, it's always preferable to use awk's -v option (demonstrated in some of the preceding examples) to pass values into awk from without.

Regards,
Alister
# 5  
Old 03-01-2011
Thnx for the info but I tried all the alternatives but still not working

here is another example

file.txt
Code:
cc
f
LST GCELL:
aas
la
laaa

When I tried to get the text pattern between "LST GCELL:" and "la" without using variables it works fine but when using the variables still not working!

Code:
# first="LST GCELL:"
# awk '/'$first'/,/la/' file.txt
# awk: syntax error near line 1
# awk: bailing out near line 1

Last edited by Franklin52; 03-01-2011 at 06:45 AM.. Reason: Please use code tags
# 6  
Old 03-01-2011
Double quote $first.
# 7  
Old 03-01-2011
I tried but still the same! can you help please
Code:
# awk '/"$first"/,/la/' file.txt
#

Last edited by Franklin52; 03-01-2011 at 06:46 AM.. Reason: Please use code tags
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