Can someone point me to documentation on how to do the following -

I want to read in a large error log, then display it to the screen. I need from there to be able to include or exclude certain lines in my output. So I might want to look for lines that ONLY contain "Error 12", or I want to exclude all lines that say "Error 12". I want to be able to continue to apply filters and do a build up, so let's say I want to exclude 12 different things from a log, I just keep adding to the exclude stack, or remove lines that I've excluded.

So what I'm looking for a way to basically be able to go into my own vi session, the arrow keys will scroll up and down in the buffer, and I will scan the keyboard for input like "q" to quit, "i" to include, "e" to exclude, and those will pop me to a screen that would show me what I currently have included or excluded, and allow me to type in a term.

The array manipulation, exclusion, inclusion and associated stuff I can handle. I'm just not sure where to start for the terminal session and scanning of the keyboard for certain input? Just looking for suggested reading, or more importantly, terms to look for that would accomodate what I'm looking for?

Thanks for the help!

Devon

Not sure if I am being weird but didn't you answer your own question?
Just open it in vi and away you go??

No, I'm already using that solution, and I don't like it. I want to be able to apply and remove multiple filters at will, and I don't believe I can do that with vi? Correct me if I'm wrong?

Devon

Well I find there is almost nothing you can't do in vi(m) if you put your mind to it

The other thought I had based on your information would be to write a small bash script that takes your arguments as input to sed statements
and then get the sed to alter your information, like:
Maybe this will give you some ideas or something to play with?