Errors when executing switch/case in awk command in Ubuntu and Mac

Question

I have a very strange problem when executing following code:

awk '{ foo = 1; switch (foo) { case 1: i=i+1; break; } }' ./tcpheader.txt

Getting following error:

awk: syntax error at source line 1
 context is
    { foo = 1; switch (foo) >>>  { <<< 
awk: illegal statement at source line 1
awk: illegal statement at source line 1

Any idea what's the problem ?

Tested on Mac:

awk --version

Output:

awk version 20070501

Tested on Ubuntu:

awk -W version

Output:

mawk 1.3.3 Nov 1996, Copyright (C) Michael D. Brennan

compiled limits:
max NF             32767
sprintf buffer      2040

Please add name and version of your awk to your question. [The switch statement is a gawk-specific feature](https://www.gnu.org/software/gawk/manual/gawk.html#Switch-Statement). — Cyrus, Jun 20 '15 at 09:33
Have a look at this: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/11401979/switch-case-doesnt-work-in-awk — Rakholiya Jenish, Jun 20 '15 at 09:42
I think I have to install gawk instead of default awk ubuntu and mac awk version ... — Arsi, Jun 20 '15 at 09:44
Its not only about mawk, in mac I use something else...its about awk command in general — Arsi, Jun 20 '15 at 09:47

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 20 '15 at 09:46

2

Installing gawk solved my problem:

sudo apt-get install gawk

in mac:

sudo port install gawk

answered Jun 20 '15 at 09:46

Arsi

163
9

right, `switch` is a gawk extension as clearly stated in the documentation http://www.gnu.org/software/gawk/manual/gawk.html#Switch-Statement – Ed Morton Jun 21 '15 at 13:51

Errors when executing switch/case in awk command in Ubuntu and Mac

1 Answers1