UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

hi, consider the below line in a text file,

'Y',getdate(),'N','V',NULL .....
'N',getdate(),'Y','D',NULL .....
'Y','N','Y',getdate(),'Y','D',NULL ....

as u see above, i want only the second word after the getdate() word...
getdate() will not come 2nd word alwys it may be any position but i need the second word from it(getdate())..
i.e, V from first line, D from 2nd line and D from 3rd line...

so by keeping the target word as 'getdate()' i want to display the second word from getdate...

so can any one please provide the command using grep, cut command to get the solution...

Try:

Code:

sed 's/.*getdate(),\(.*\),\(.*\),.*/\2/' < file

Thnx dennis
it will be helpful if u explain me the command u gave...
since i cant able to test that now(today) so could u explain each thing in it...
ex: what tat \2 means?

This sed statement is used to grep getdate() as well as 1st and 2nd character from the line.

sed 's/.*getdate(),\(.*\),\(.*\),.*/\2/' < file

sed = sed editor
's/ = search
.*getdate(), = search getdate()
\(.*\), = store 1st character after above getdate() search in var 1
\(.*\), = store 2nd character after above getdate() search in var 2
.*/ = search end),
.*/\2/' = replace or show var 2 stored
< file = from file

Is something missing here....

Thanks Sameermohite

Can any one please provide the command,

the below command works wrong,
sed 's/.*getdate(),\(.*\),\(.*\),.*/\2/' < file

my txt file:
------------------------------------------
values('SGAV01204','retention_cd','retention_cd','C','EQUALS','N',-999, NULL,NULL,'N','N',NULL, NULL,'SYSTEM',getdate(),'0','D','0','S','N',0,'N','N','00',NULL1,NULL2,'N',NULL3,NULL4,NULL)
------------------------------------------

output for the above command:
by using above sed command (sed 's/.*getdate(),\(.*\),\(.*\),.*/\2/' file) i am getting below O/P:

O/P:
------------------------------------------
values('SGAV01204','retention_cd','retention_cd','C','EQUALS','N',-999, NULL,NULL,'N','N',NULL, NULL,'SYSTEM', NULL4
------------------------------------------

but expected output is just :
------------------------------------------
'D'
------------------------------------------

(2nd word after getdate() word)

Instead it printing from back side 2nd word also the first line.

can any one please give the sed command which provide the exact O/P i needed(only the second word after getdate() and NOT the first line). I dont need the first line also.