Double space a file using awk
 

Dear all,

I want to explore the unix awk command. The following one liner will generate the double space in a file:

awk '1;{print " "}' < file.txt

Can anybody please explain the use of "1;" in this command. Thank you very much in advance.

Hi,

In this case the 1 prints the currently read line (try: awk '1' < file.txt).

You can also use either of these to accomplish the same:Hope this helps.

Thank you very much dear Druuna :)

Probably easiest to just set record separator:

You're welcome :)

To be more specific, the default action for any true statement is to print the line. Since any number other than zero evaluates as being true, using "1" as a command acts as a quick shortcut for typing "print".

By the way, the command as given above doesn't just double-space the file. the "blank" lines actually have one space in them. You probably want to tell it to print nothing instead.

And for yet another way to write it:

Edit: Speaking of which, you might be interested in this:

http://www.catonmat.net/blog/awk-one...ined-part-one/

Well seeing we are all having another look ... have we considered what happens with current solutions should the input line be blank?
I believe a better solution is: