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# 1  
Old 04-18-2012
Need awk help
I am trying to print only first names that start with C and E.

Code:
Mike Harrington: (510) 548-1278:250:100:175                  
Christian Dobbins: (408) 538-2358:155:90:201                  
Susan Dalsass: (206) 654-6279:250:60:50
Chet Main : (510) 548-5258:50:95:135
Tom Savage : (408) 926-3456:250:168:200
Elizabeth Stachelin : (916) 440-1763:175:75:300


I've tried

Code:
awk -F: '/C|E/ {print $1}' information

but it prints first and last names starting with C and E. I just want to print the first names that start with C and E. Can anyone help?
Last edited by joeyg; 04-18-2012 at 01:28 PM.. Reason: Please wrap commands and sampels in CodeTags; easier to read/copy
# 2  
Old 04-18-2012
What you need is an anchor, that says the match must start at the beginning. ^ anchors to beginning and $ to the end.

Code:
awk -F: '/^(C|E)/ {print $1}'

This User Gave Thanks to neutronscott For This Post:
JA50
# 3  
Old 04-18-2012
Hi JA50,

One way:
Code:
$ cat infile
Mike Harrington: (510) 548-1278:250:100:175
Christian Dobbins: (408) 538-2358:155:90:201
Susan Dalsass: (206) 654-6279:250:60:50
Chet Main : (510) 548-5258:50:95:135
Tom Savage : (408) 926-3456:250:168:200
Elizabeth Stachelin : (916) 440-1763:175:75:300
$ awk 'BEGIN { FS = "[: ]" } $1 ~ /^[CE]/ { print $1 }' infile
Christian
Chet
Elizabeth

This User Gave Thanks to birei For This Post:
JA50
# 4  
Old 04-18-2012
Unsure of your issue
Code:
$ awk -F: '/C|E/ {print $1}' sample2.txt
Christian Dobbins
Chet Main
Elizabeth Stachelin

$ awk -F" " '/C|E/ {print $1}' sample2.txt
Christian
Chet
Elizabeth

Your original command only includes people with first names beginning C or E.
My 2nd example only returns the first name.
This User Gave Thanks to joeyg For This Post:
JA50
# 5  
Old 04-18-2012
Got it. Thanks guys
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