Writing an AWK instruction in a bash script

Question

In a bash script, I need to do this:

cat<<EOF> ins.exe
grep 'pattern' file | awk '{print $2}' > results
EOF

The problem is that $2 is interpreted as a variable and the file ins.exe ends up containing "grep 'pattern' file | awk '{print }' > results", without the $2.

I've tried using

echo "grep 'pattern' file | awk '{print $2}' > results" >> ins.exe

But it's the same problem.

How can I fix this?

Have you tried awk '{print \$2}'?

GMichael
– GMichael

2016-12-13 10:34:13 +00:00
Commented Dec 13, 2016 at 10:34 — GMichael
– GMichael, Commented Dec 13, 2016 at 10:34

Tom Fenech · Accepted Answer · 2016-12-13 10:34:45Z

3

Just escape the $:

cat<<EOF> ins.exe
awk '/pattern/ { print \$2 }' file > results
EOF

No need to pipe grep to awk, by the way.

With bash, you have another option as well, which is to use <<'EOF'. This means that no expansions will occur within the string.

answered Dec 13, 2016 at 10:34

Tom Fenech

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1 Comment

Qwertuy Over a year ago

Thanks, nice answer!

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