sed command replace syntax. 1

[TheDash]

Hi members,
I am trying to replace all strings that begin with &&user to user in the directory. It should replace in all files and sub directories of the directory.

I've tried this but it doesn't work. I am using solaris 5.10 ksh and sed -i also won't work.

find ./ -type f -exec sed -i 's/&&user/user/g' {} \;

What is the escape character for double ampersands? Appreciate your help. Thanks.

 

[stefanwagner]

find ./ -type f -exec sed -i 's/&&user/user/g' {} \;

works for me (Linux, bash, gnu-sed) without escaping the ampersands.

Do you get an error, a warning? Does the manpage of sed mention -i?


don't visit my homepage:

http://home.arcor.de/hirnstrom/minis/index.html

 

[Annihilannic]

Unfortunately the -i option is a GNU extension which isn't available on the standard Solaris version of sed.

Try something like this:

# save the date for later
DATE=`date +%Y%m%d`
# for each file containing '&&user'
find . -type f | xargs grep -l '&&user' | while read FILE
do
    # back it up
    cp -p $FILE $FILE.$DATE
    # use the backup as input to sed and overwrite the original
    sed 's/&&user/user/g' $FILE.$DATE > $FILE
done

You shouldn't need to escape the ampersands; they only require escaping in the replacement string which is where they have special meaning; in that case you would just use \&.

Annihilannic.

 

[Annihilannic]

(sorry Stefan, we cross-posted... yes, I was that slow to submit!)

Annihilannic.

 

[TheDash]

I tested the script.. Its is just deleting the line with &&user. Need an alternative idea. Thanks all!

 

[Annihilannic]

That's strange, worked fine for me on Solaris. Did you figure it out in the end?.

Annihilannic.