Sore awk output in variable

[mxstein]

I would like to store the output of an awk command into a variable to be used later.

I have a file called "names"

This file has the data below
first last cuid

awk '{print $2 ; }' names
will list "last"

I'd like to store that in a variable called last like below but it doesn't work

last='awk '{print $2 ; }' names'

I'd appreciate some help. I think I have to do something with the quotes to get the output of the awk to go into the variable last, but I don't know how.

 

[PHV]

In your shell man page take a look at 'command substitution':
Either:
last=$(awk '{print $2}' names)
Or:
last=`awk '{print $2}' names`

Hope This Helps, PH.
Want to get great answers to your Tek-Tips questions? Have a look at FAQ219-2884 or FAQ181-2886

 

[annietech]

Hi PHV,

This worked but what happens if I have a file that has multiple lines, each of those have a few filed. Here's example file:

db1 user1 pass1
db2 user2 pass2
db3 user3 pass3

this file is called db_definition.

I need to do, for each record, declare DB=$1, USER_NAME=$2, PSW=$3 and then call a function that will use these 3 variables.

I tried this:
awk '{
for (i=1 ; i<=NR; i++)
{
"DB"=$1;
"USR_NAME"=$2;
"PSW"=$3;
check_db;
}
}' db_definition

where check_db is the function that take in those three variables.

Your help is much appreciated!!

Annie

 

[PHV]

check_db is the function
An awk or a shell function ?

Hope This Helps, PH.
Want to get great answers to your Tek-Tips questions? Have a look at FAQ219-2884 or FAQ181-2886

 

[feherke]

Hi

Why to use [tt]awk[/tt] here ?

while read DB USR_NAME PSW; do
  check_db
done < datafile.txt

Feherke.

http://rootshell.be/~feherke/

 

[annietech]

Hi PHV,

check_db is a shell function

Cheers

 

[annietech]

Hi Feherke,

This worked perfectly now! Thanks a lot!