simple sed question

faizlo · 01-20-2009, 07:21 PM

Hi All,

I have been trying to use sed to make a change in my files.
I used the following command:

Code:

sed -e 's/-l 1000/-l 5000/' <old > new

but what I get is the the new files without the intended change.
I also used:

Code:

sed -i -e 's/-l 1000/-l 5000/' <old > new

but gained nothing.

I used also:

Code:

sed -i -e 's/1000/5000/' old > new

and in this case, the change took place in the old file and the new file was produced empty of any contents.

I used double quotes instead on one, and I also removed the "<" sign before the name of the old file.

Thanks in advance,

faizlo

twantrd · 01-20-2009, 07:41 PM

Quote:

I have been trying to use sed to make a change in my files.

You don't need to redirect to a new file if you're using -i. Just do:

Code:

sed -i 's/1000/5000/' filename

Check your file again and you will see the replacement changes.

-twantrd

syg00 · 01-20-2009, 07:45 PM

All sed questions are simple - it's the regex that can get curly ...

Looks like it should work - bash and GNU sed ?.
Else try escaping the spaces maybe. The reason the last attempt did what it did was because you told it to - look up the "-i" switch.