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passing argument into awk

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# 1  
Old 02-01-2007
passing argument into awk
i'm trying to pass a numerical argument with function xyz to print specfic lines of filename, but my 'awk' syntax is incorrect.
ie

xyx 3 (prints the 3rd line, separated by ':' of filename)

Code:
function xyz() {
arg1=$1
cat filename | awk -F: -v x=$arg1 '{print $x}'
}

any ideas?
# 2  
Old 02-01-2007
Change print $x to print x
# 3  
Old 02-01-2007
Quote:
Originally Posted by jim mcnamara
Change print $x to print x
won't that only print out the number '3' and not the 3rd field??

I tried it anyway and i am still receiving
Code:
awk: syntax error near line 1
awk: bailing out near line 1

Last edited by prkfriryce; 02-01-2007 at 04:45 PM..
# 4  
Old 02-01-2007
Quote:
Originally Posted by prkfriryce
won't that only print out the number '3' and not the 3rd line??
[...]
You mean the 3rd field?

Code:
$ cat filename
field1:field2:field3

$ function xyz() {
> awk -F: -v x="$1" '{print $x}' filename
> }

$ xyz 3
field3

If you want the 3rd line:

Code:
$ cat filename
line1
line2
line3

$ awk -F: -v x="3" 'NR==x' filename
line3

P.S. Given the error, it seems that you're using an old, broken awk,
on Solaris: /usr/bin/awk. In that case you can change the syntax like this:

Code:
awk -F: '{print $x}' x="$1" filename

But you'd better use nawk (/usr/bin/nawk) or /usr/xpg4/bin/awk.
Last edited by radoulov; 02-01-2007 at 05:25 PM..
# 5  
Old 02-01-2007
Quote:
Originally Posted by radoulov
You mean the 3rd field?

Code:
$ cat filename
field1:field2:field3

$ function xyz() {
> awk -F: -v x="$1" '{print $x}' filename
> }

$ xyz 3
field3

If you want the 3rd line:

Code:
$ cat filename
line1
line2
line3

$ awk -F: -v x="3" 'NR==x' filename
line3

P.S. Given the error, it seams that you're using an old, broken awk,
on Solaris: /usr/bin/awk. In that case you can change the syntax like this:

Code:
awk -F: '{print $x}' x="$1" filename

But you'd better use nawk (/usr/bin/nawk) or /usr/xpg4/bin/awk.
yes i'm sorry I meant 'field' not line. I will try

Code:
$ cat filename
field1:field2:field3

$ function xyz() {
> awk -F: -v x="$1" '{print $x}' filename
> }

$ xyz 3
field3

and
Code:
awk -F: '{print $x}' x="$1" filename

when I get a chance

thanks

edit*

the second method works! Thanks!
Last edited by prkfriryce; 02-01-2007 at 05:29 PM..
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