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[Request] Copying a file with cp except for the last one or two lines.

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Top Forums Shell Programming and Scripting [Request] Copying a file with cp except for the last one or two lines.
# 1  
Old 05-24-2012
[Request] Copying a file with cp except for the last one or two lines.
Hi folks! I'm new to the unix-side of the world! Smilie and I'm trying to learn as much as possible the good stuff that's in it!
So.. here comes the point.. as you can see in the title, I need to copy a file but truncating it so that last 1-2 lines are not copied... any suggests from the mastercoders? Smilie
# 2  
Old 05-24-2012
i dont think cp has any option to copy like that directly. As a workaround you could do something like below

to copy except last line :
Code:
cat souce_file | sed '$d' > dest_file

to copy except last two lines :
Code:
cat souce_file | sed '$d' |sed '$d'  > dest_file

This User Gave Thanks to ningy For This Post:
WideMind
# 3  
Old 05-24-2012
Any reason for skipping the last 1-2 lines? Are these "special" in some way from the other lines?
# 4  
Old 05-24-2012
With GNU-head the syntax for copying and cutting the last 2 lines:
Code:
head -n-2 source_file >dest_file

This User Gave Thanks to cero For This Post:
WideMind
# 5  
Old 05-24-2012
Quote:
Originally Posted by ningy
i dont think cp has any option to copy like that directly. As a workaround you could do something like below

to copy except last line :
Code:
cat souce_file | sed '$d' > dest_file

to copy except last two lines :
Code:
cat souce_file | sed '$d' |sed '$d'  > dest_file

Nice workaround.. what does sed $d do? I can't get it.. (my bad)

Quote:
Originally Posted by elixir_sinari
Any reason for skipping the last 1-2 lines? Are these "special" in some way from the other lines?
Sure Smilie

Quote:
Originally Posted by cero
With GNU-head the syntax for copying and cutting the last 2 lines:
Code:
head -n-2 source_file >dest_file

Ohhh yeah, that's just what I was looking for! Smilie
# 6  
Old 05-24-2012
Quote:
Originally Posted by WideMind
Nice workaround.. what does sed $d do? I can't get it.. (my bad)

$ is the address of the last line of input and d is for deleting the pattern (which in this case is none..so delete the entire line)
This User Gave Thanks to elixir_sinari For This Post:
WideMind
# 7  
Old 05-24-2012
Quote:
Originally Posted by ningy
i dont think cp has any option to copy like that directly. As a workaround you could do something like below

to copy except last line :
Code:
cat souce_file | sed '$d' > dest_file

to copy except last two lines :
Code:
cat souce_file | sed '$d' |sed '$d'  > dest_file

You get a Useless Use of Cat Award. Smilie
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