[SOLVED] Backwards double grep?

Hisu · 03-09-2011, 12:51 AM

I have a file like this:

Code:

<unknown random non-numberic garbage> 7893659783
<unknown number of garbage lines here>
<unknown random non-numberic garbage> notable line
<unknown number of garbage lines here>
<unknown random non-numberic garbage> 531269753
<unknown number of garbage lines here>
<unknown random non-numberic garbage> 35087513
<unknown number of garbage lines here>
<unknown random non-numberic garbage> notable line

I need to search it backwards for "notable line" strings AND the first numeric string preceding that line. I've discovered that it's easy to search backwards by tac file | grep pattern, but how to tell grep to continue searching from where the pattern was found? In short, I want to make the output of the example above into this:

Code:

<unknown random non-numberic garbage> notable line
<unknown random non-numberic garbage> 35087513
<unknown random non-numberic garbage> notable line
<unknown random non-numberic garbage> 7893659783

Or I must use another tool, like awk or sed? If so, how do I do so?

grail · 03-09-2011, 01:11 AM

I am not sure grep would have this ability, but awk would be easy enough:

Code:

tac file | awk '/notable line$/{x=1;print}x && /[0-9]+$/{x=0;print}'

Dark_Helmet · 03-09-2011, 01:41 AM

Without having a little more detail on how you identify these lines, I can't give a workable solution. In fact, I can't be certain it's possible, but you could probably do it by cascading grep.

Assuming regex1 matches all lines like so:

Code:

<unknown random non-numberic garbage> <some number>

And assuming regex2 matches all lines like so:

Code:

<unknown random non-numberic garbage> notable line

Then something like this might work:

Code:

tac file | egrep "regex1\|regex2" | egrep -A 1 "regex2"

The tac reverses the file like you want.
The first egrep matches both types of lines.
The second egrep prints one line of context after the "notable lines." That first line of context should be the first numeric line like you want.

That is... unless I misunderstood the problem.

EDIT:
Keep in mind, depending on how regex1 and regex2 are written, they might need to be surrounded by parentheses to make sure the OR'ing in the first egrep behaves like you want. Again, with some more detail and a sample data file, I might be able to give a working command.

Hisu · 03-09-2011, 01:44 AM

Works like magic, just as I want it to. Thank you!