Linux in a Nutshell, Third Edition

Command-Line Syntax

The syntax for invoking sed has two forms:

            sed [options] 'command' file(s)              sed [options] -f              scriptfile              file(s)          

The first form allows you to specify an editing command on the command line, surrounded by single quotes. The second form allows you to specify a scriptfile, a file containing sed commands. If no files are specified, sed reads from standard input.

The following options are recognized:

-e cmd

Next argument is an editing command; not needed unless specifying two or more editing commands.

-f scriptfile

Next argument is a file containing editing commands.

-n

Suppress the default output; sed displays only those lines specified with the p command or with the p flag of the s command.

-V

Display version number.

--quiet

Same as -n.

--expression= cmd

Same as -e.

--file= file

Same as -f.

--help

Display brief help message with command-line options.

--silent

Same as -n.

--version

Same as -V.