Select lines between known line and line with first-matched sign at the end

Question

There is the file with below content (file.conf):

/etc/:
rc.conf
passwd
/usr/:
/usr/local/etc/:

I need select lines between "/etc/:" and first-matching lines with ":" at the end.

cat ./file.conf | sed -n '/\/etc\/:/,/\/.*:$/p'

prints all content but I need

/etc/:
rc.conf
passwd
/usr/:

With this command cat ./file.conf | sed -n '/\/etc\/:/,/\/.*:$/p; :q' the same.

possible duplicate of [Copy a section within two keywords into a target file](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/19434755/copy-a-section-within-two-keywords-into-a-target-file) — Bentoy13, Oct 23 '13 at 12:15

Jotne · Accepted Answer · 2013-10-23T12:09:59.807

1

An awk solution

awk '/^\/etc\// {f=1} f; /:$/ && !/\/etc\//{f=0}' file.conf
/etc/:
rc.conf
passwd
/usr/:

another version

awk '/^\/etc\// {f=1;print;next} f; /:$/ {f=0}' file.conf

awk '
    /^\/etc\// {    # search for /etc/, if found do
        f=1         # set flag f=1
        print       # print this line (/etc/ line)
        next        # skip to next line so this would not be printed twice
        } 
    f;              # Is flag f set, yes do default action { print $0 }
    /:$/ {          # does line end with : 
        f=0         # yes, reset flag
        }
    ' file.conf

edited Oct 23 '13 at 12:09

answered Oct 23 '13 at 11:48

Jotne

40,548
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Yes, it's works. Thanks! But just for me, is it possible with sed? May be something like :{2}q in the last sed command... – Andry Oct 23 '13 at 11:51
It certainly is possible with ``sed``. You might have to make use of conditional branching. – steffen Oct 23 '13 at 11:58
Solution with awk is suitable for me, but need some help. What is means "{f=1;print;next} f" in last command? – Andry Oct 23 '13 at 12:02
See may updated info. If you like my answer, give it some cred :) – Jotne Oct 23 '13 at 12:10
@Jotne Yes. Your answer is great! But I dont know how I can add you credits? :-) – Andry Oct 23 '13 at 14:19

sat · Answer 2 · 2013-10-23T12:19:45.243

1

You can try this sed:

sed -n '/\/etc\/:/{:loop; $q; $!N; /:/b p; b loop; }; :p; p' file.conf

Output:

/etc/:
rc.conf
passwd
/usr/:

edited Oct 23 '13 at 12:19

answered Oct 23 '13 at 12:11

sat

14,589
7
46
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On my Ubuntu, this give me the unwanted last line. `/usr/local/etc/:` – Jotne Oct 23 '13 at 12:21
Now it seems to be ok :) – Jotne Oct 23 '13 at 12:22
on my FreeBSD sed: 1: "/\/etc\/:/{:loop; $q; $ ...": unexpected EOF (pending }'s) – Andry Oct 23 '13 at 14:41
@Andry, Try this: `sed -n '/\/etc\/:/{:loop; N; /:$/b p; b loop;}; :p; p' file.conf` – sat Oct 24 '13 at 05:34

Select lines between known line and line with first-matched sign at the end

2 Answers2