AIX sed command don't work with \n

[ecollard]

Hi,

i want to use the sed command on AIX (5.x) and i have a problem with special character like \n ou \t

the command like cat file| sed 's/\n//g' don't work.

I have tried : cat file| sed 's/\\n//g'
Etc...

do you have an idea ?

 

[columb]

Try using Ctrl-V and then the relevant key
For example type 'sed 's/Ctrl-v<return>//g' and you get

sed 's/^M//g'

Then don't use cat unless you need to
Try

sed 's/^M//g <input_file > output_file

Ceci n'est pas une signature
Columb Healy

 

[columb]

Discussing this with a co-worker who points out that what I've described removes \r, not \n. He recommends using tr i.e.

tr -d '\n' < inputfile > outputfile # remove line feeds
tr -d '\t' < inputfile > outputfile # remove tabs

Ceci n'est pas une signature
Columb Healy

 

[ecollard]

OK,
but my sample is not good.

other case inverse , i want to add a new line ou tab after a blank ?

sed 's/ /\n/g <input_file > output_file

Q: why the man AIX speak about and Linux work ?

 

[columb]

Hmmm...

You're right, and it gets more complex than that. However the exaple in 'man sed' does work which is

  5. A sample sed script file:

     :join

     /\\$/{N

     s/\\\n//

     b join

     }

     This sed script joins each line that ends with a \ (backslash) to the line
     that follows it. First, the pattern /\\$/ selects a line that ends with a \
     for the group of commands enclosed in {} (braces). The N subcommand then
     appends the next line, embedding a new-line character. The s/\\\n// deletes
     the \ and embedded new-line character. Finally, b join branches back to the
     label :join to check for a \ at the end of the newly joined line. Without
     the branch, the sed command writes the joined line and reads the next one
     before checking for a second \.

         Note: The N subcommand causes the sed command to stop immediately if
         there are no more lines of input (that is, if the N subcommand reads an
         end-of-file character). It does not copy the pattern space to standard
         output before stopping. This means that if the last line of the input
         ends with a \, it is not copied to the output.

which shows that you can use the \n format.

However, I can't get it to work pn the right hand side of the substitution. We need a sed guru

Ceci n'est pas une signature
Columb Healy

 

[columb]

Cracked it
Your 'add an LF after every space' script would be

{N
s/ / \
/g
}

On the command line - cut and pasted from my screen

b01301# cat hello.txt
Hello, world
b01301# sed 's/ / \
> /g' < hello.txt
Hello,
world

i.e. use the return key after a backslash.

Ceci n'est pas une signature
Columb Healy