Help: Sed trick

the_gripmaster · 07-19-2009, 10:18 AM

I have a sample file:

Code:

           
AA019  120    988    102
BB 12  120    988    102
CC022  120    988    102
DD 25  120    988    102
EE     120    988    102
FF 21  120    988    102
GG     120    988    102
HH011  120    988    102
II     120    988    102
JJ 54  120    988    102
            ^
        more 4 space character in this column

I need to insert 4 spaces at the position indicated of every line. How can this be done?

jschiwal · 07-19-2009, 10:29 AM

You need four spaces inserted after the 12th character?

Code:

sed 's/\(.\{12\}\)\(.*\)/\1    \2/' sample.txt

the_gripmaster · 07-19-2009, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jschiwal

You need four spaces inserted after the 12th character?

Code:

sed -e 's/\(.\{12\}\)\(.*\)/\1    \2/' sample.txt

Yup, you got it right. Thanks a lot.