Korn Shell Programming by Example

ed

Official Description

The ed command is a line editing program.

Syntax

ed [-p string] [-s] [file]

Options

-p string sets the ed prompt to string.

-s suppresses diagnostics (which is useful for scripts).

Oddities

The default for string is null (no prompt).

Example

$ cat buzz
#! /bin/ksh
integer x=17
while :
do
x=17
done
$
$ ed buzz                    # Use ed to edit the buzz file
47                           # Character count is automatically displayed
2                            # Command 2 means display line 2
integer x=17
s/17/23/                     # Changes the 17 to a 23
2                            # Redisplay line 2
integer x=23
3                            # Display line 3
while :
q
?                            # Editor displays a ? when confused
q                            # Quit the editor, (w saves changes)
$
$ cat -n buzz
     1  #! /bin/ksh
     2  integer x=17
     3  while :
     4  do
     5  x=17
     6  done
$