Learning Linux Shell Scripting - Second Edition

Appending – the a command

The a command is used for appending. When the append command is used, it appends the text after the line in the pattern space in which the pattern is matched. The backslash should be placed immediately after the a command. On the next line, the text to be appended is to be placed.

Here is an example:

    $ cat shopping.txt
  

The output is as follows:

    Product     Quantity  Unit_Price  Total_Cost
    Apple       2          3           6
    Orange      2           .8         1.6
    Papaya      2          1.5         3
    Chicken     3          5          15
    Cashew      1         10          10
    
    $ sed '/Orange/a
    **** Buy one get one free offer on this item ! ****' shopping.txt
  

The output is as follows:

    Product   Quantity  Unit_Price  Total_Cost
    Apple     2          3           6
    Orange    2           .8         1.6
    **** Buy one get one free offer on this item ! ****
    Papaya    2          1.5         3
    Chicken 3 5 15 ...