UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Code:

awk '{
  if ($0 ~ /Error/)
     printf("%s\n%s\n", lnbef, $0)
  lnbef=$0
}' file

this is my solution :
isn't it wonderful that you can have more than one solution in Unix

Code:

#$1 : file

IFS=:

grep -n "Error:" $1 | 
while read line_no the_rest 
do
    head -$(($line_no-1)) $1 | tail -1
done

IFS=""

Hi,

If your input file(say filename as "test") is

==========
Input Rec # 2384 Client: BGA Rx No: 0735845----1
Error: (W)Submit Date before Fill Date(SUBMIT-DATE)
Input Rec # 2384 Client: BGA Rx No: 0735845
Input Rec # 2384 Client: BGA Rx No: 0735845
Input Rec # 2384 Client: BGA Rx No: 0999999----2
Error: (W)Submit Date before Fill Date(SUBMIT-DATE)
Input Rec # 2384 Client: BGA Rx No: 0735845
Input Rec # 2384 Client: BGA Rx No: 0735845
Input Rec # 2384 Client: BGA Rx No: 0735845
Input Rec # 2384 Client: BGA Rx No: 0735845
Input Rec # 2384 Client: BGA Rx No: 0735845
Input Rec # 2384 Client: BGA Rx No: 8888888----3
Error: (W)Submit Date before Fill Date(SUBMIT-DATE)
Input Rec # 2384 Client: BGA Rx No: 0735845
Input Rec # 2384 Client: BGA Rx No: 0735845
================

and your expected output is Input rec.. line exactly above the error line

then use this command :
cat test | grep -B 1 "Error:" | grep -v "Error"