Replace string variable with string variable using Sed [duplicate]

Question

I have a file called ethernet containing multiple lines. I have saved one of these lines as a variable called old_line. The contents of this variable looks like this:

SUBSYSTEM=="net", ACTION=="add", DRIVERS=="?*", ATTR{address}=="2r:11:89:89:9g:ah", ATTR{dev_id}=="0x0", ATTR{type}=="1", KERNEL=="eth*", NAME="eth1"

I have created a second variable called new_line that is similar to old_line but with some modifications in the text.

I want to substitute the contents of old_line with the contents of new_line using sed. So far I have the following, but it doesn't work:

sed -i "s/${old_line}/${new_line}/g" ethernet

Try without the {} around variables ? Also check stackoverflow.com/questions/8938571/… — trainoasis
– trainoasis, Commented Feb 17, 2015 at 11:09

PatJ · Accepted Answer · 2015-02-17 13:57:53Z

13

You need to escape your oldline so that it contains no regex special characters, luckily this can be done with sed.

old_line=$(echo "${old_line}" | sed -e 's/[]$.*[\^]/\\&/g' )
sed -i -e "s/${old_line}/${new_line}/g" ethernet

answered Feb 17, 2015 at 13:57

PatJ

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2 Comments

user2835098 Over a year ago

Yes, that totally did the trick! I am very grateful PatJ!!

PatJ Over a year ago

For a more general case, "/" should be escaped too as long as "\" and "&" in the new_line variable.

anubhava · Accepted Answer · 2015-02-17 14:11:11Z

5

Since ${old_line} contains many regex special metacharacters like *, ? etc therefore your sed is failing.

Use this awk command instead that uses no regex:

awk -v old="$old_line" -v new="$new_line" 'p=index($0, old) {
      print substr($0, 1, p-1) new substr($0, p+length(old)) }' ethernet

edited Feb 17, 2015 at 14:11

answered Feb 17, 2015 at 11:12

anubhava

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6 Comments

user2835098 Over a year ago

Thanks, I copied the script but it only echoes the variable contents of the new variable in my terminal. It doesn't modify the file ethernet. What am I doing wrong?

tripleee Over a year ago

It's not "wrong" per se, it's just that plain-jane Awk does not support inline editing. If you have Gawk, try adding an --inline option. If not, store in a temp file and move it on top of the original.

anubhava Over a year ago

Same command will work on gawk also (in fact I have also tested it on gawk)

mklement0 Over a year ago

@tripleee: I think you meant in-place editing and -i inplace, available in Gawk v4.1+

tripleee Over a year ago

Oh, quite so, sorry for the confusion.

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