display awk output in perl

KManepalli · 02-08-2011, 10:41 AM

Hi

I am trying to use awk command in perl.

Below is my awk comamnd which works alone.

awk '{Easttot=Easttot+$1} END {print Easttot}' MessagesProcessedEAST2Cnts.dat

I would like to use this awk's output in shell script.

I am using system command like below to get the out put. But it is not working .

$Output = system("awk '{Easttot=Easttot+$1} END {print Easttot}' MessagesProcessedEAST2Cnts.dat'");

I am not sure if the above syntax is correct.
Please let me know.

Thanks
Kiran

Tinkster · 02-08-2011, 04:01 PM

Hi, welcome to LQ!

How does the "not working" manifest itself?

Irrespective of "not working", you'd be better off to do
that calculation within perl rather than from an external
command - using two programming languages for one task
seems kind of inefficient.

Cheers,
Tink

grail · 02-08-2011, 06:59 PM

I am with Tink on this one. Even though I am an avid awk user, it would seem a waste to use this when already using one of the most powerful string manipulative languages.

theNbomr · 02-08-2011, 07:24 PM

From 'perldoc -f system':

Code:

The return value is the exit status of the program

Perhaps you meant to use `backticks`, or open().
But really, like the others have already said, the whole concept is just wrong and redundant. Calling AWK from Perl is like taking a hot-dog to a banquet.

--- rod.