[SOLVED] Having a problem with sed.

Mouse750 · 09-13-2011, 08:31 PM

This is the file I need help with:

Code:

# test.txt

config 'zone'
	option 'name' 'wan'
	option 'input' 'REJECT'
	option 'output' 'ACCEPT'
	option 'forward' 'REJECT'
	option 'masq' '1'
	option 'mtu_fix' '1'

I want to use sed to append a line after

Code:

	option 'name' 'wan'

So that it looks like:

Code:

# test.txt

config 'zone'
	option 'name' 'wan'
	option 'network' 'wan vpn'
	option 'input' 'REJECT'
	option 'output' 'ACCEPT'
	option 'forward' 'REJECT'
	option 'masq' '1'
	option 'mtu_fix' '1'

This is what I am trying:

Code:

sed -i "/option 'name' 'wan'/a \
	option 'network' 'wan vpn'" test.txt

And this is what I get:

Code:

# test.txt

config 'zone'
	option 'name' 'wan'
option 'network' 'wan vpn'
	option 'input' 'REJECT'
	option 'output' 'ACCEPT'
	option 'forward' 'REJECT'
	option 'masq' '1'
	option 'mtu_fix' '1'

I don't mean to be picky but can I get that 4th line to "tab" in? It just looks ugly.

-

macemoneta · 09-13-2011, 08:54 PM

Just put a backslash (\) before the tab where you want it in the command line.

Mouse750 · 09-13-2011, 09:37 PM

I can't even enter a "tab" into the command line. I tried pasting one in but, that did not work either. I can use 8 spaces to "look" like a tab like so:

Code:

sed -i "/option 'name' 'wan'/a \
\        option 'network' 'wan vpn'" test.txt

Thanks for your backslash tip, at least 8 spaces gives the optical illusion of a tab. I'll leave this thread open for a little while in case any one else has anything to add.

crts · 09-14-2011, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mouse750

I can't even enter a "tab" into the command line. I tried pasting one in but, that did not work either. I can use 8 spaces to "look" like a tab like so:

Code:

sed -i "/option 'name' 'wan'/a \
\        option 'network' 'wan vpn'" test.txt

Thanks for your backslash tip, at least 8 spaces gives the optical illusion of a tab. I'll leave this thread open for a little while in case any one else has anything to add.

Hi,

if you want to enter a tab in CLI you can
a) press CTRL+V and then CTRL+I
b) press CTRL+V and then TAB

Hope this helps.

crts · 09-14-2011, 03:19 AM

This one will automatically use the indentation of the previous line:

Code:

sed -r "s/^(([[:blank:]]*)option 'name' 'wan'.*)$/\1\n\2APPEND/" file

The above works with GNU sed.

Mouse750 · 09-14-2011, 11:17 AM

Thank You!