book

UNIX° TEXT PROCESSING

by Dale Dougherty, Tim O'Reilly

May 1987

Intermediate to advanced

680 pages

17h 3m

English

O'Reilly Media, Inc.

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A WorkspaceTools for EditingDocument FormattingPrintingOther UNIX Text-Processing Tools
The UNIX ShellOutput RedirectionSpecial CharactersEnvironment VariablesPipes and FiltersShell Scripts
Session 1: Basic CommandsOpening a FileMoving the CursorSimple EditsSession 2: Moving around in a HurryMovement by ScreensMovement by Text BlocksMovement by SearchesMovement by Line NumbersSession 3: Beyond the BasicsCommand-Line OptionsCustomizing viEdits and MovementMore Ways to Insert TextUsing BuffersMarking Your PlaceOther Advanced Edits
What the Formatter DoesUsing nroffUsing troffThe Markup LanguageTurning Filling On and OffControlling JustificationHyphenationPage LayoutPage TransitionsChanging FontsA First Look at Macros
Formatting a Text File with msPage LayoutParagraphsChanging Font and Point SizeDisplaysHeadingsCover Sheet MacrosMiscellaneous FeaturesPage Headers and FootersProblems on the First PageExtensions to ms

Formatting a Text FilePage LayoutJustificationWord HyphenationDisplaysChanging Font and Point SizeMore About DisplaysForcing a Page BreakFormatting ListsHeadingsTable of ContentsFootnotes and ReferencesExtensions to mm
The ex EditorUsing ex Commands in viWrite Locally, Edit GloballyPattern MatchingWriting and Quitting FilesReading In a FileExecuting UNIX CommandsEditing Multiple FilesWord AbbreviationSaving Commands with map
Using tblSpecifying TablesA Simple Table ExampleLaying Out a TableDescribing Column FormatsChanging the Format within a TablePutting Text Blocks in a ColumnBreaking Up Long TablesPutting Titles on TablesA tbl ChecklistSome Complex Tables
A Simple eqn ExampleUsing eqnSpecifying EquationsSpaces in EquationsUsing Braces for GroupingSpecial Character NamesSpecial SymbolsOther Positional NotationDiacritical MarksDefining TermsQuoted TextFine-Tuning the DocumentKeywords and PrecedenceProblem Checklist
The pic PreprocessorFrom Describing to Programming Drawingspic Enhancements
Managing Your FilesViewing the Contents of a FileSearching for Information in a FileProofing DocumentsComparing Versions of the Same DocumentManipulating DataCleaning Up and Backing UpCompressing FilesCommunicationsScripts of UNIX Sessions
Shell Programmingex ScriptsStream Editing (sed)A Proofreading Tool You Can Build
Invoking awkRecords and FieldsTesting FieldsPassing Parameters from a Shell ScriptChanging the Field SeparatorSystem VariablesLoopingawk ApplicationsTesting Programs
CommentsDefining MacrosMacro NamesMacro ArgumentsNested Macro DefinitionsConditional ExecutionInterrupted LinesNumber RegistersDefining StringsDiversionsEnvironment SwitchingRedefining Control and Escape CharactersDebugging Your MacrosError HandlingMacro Style
Formatter Escape SequencesLocal Vertical MotionsLocal Horizontal MotionsAbsolute MotionsLine DrawingTalking Directly to the PrinterMarking a Vertical PositionOverstriking Words or CharactersTabs, Leaders, and FieldsConstant SpacingPseudo-FontsCharacter Output TranslationsOutput Line NumberingChange BarsForm LettersReading in Other Files or Program Output
Just What Is a Macro Package, RevisitedBuilding a Consistent FrameworkPage TransitionsPage Transitions in msSome Extensions to the Basic PackageOther Exercises in Page Transition
Creating a Custom Macro PackageStructured Technical DocumentsFigure and Table HeadingsLists, Lists, and More ListsSource Code and Other ExamplesNotes, Cautions, and WarningsTable of Contents, Index. and Other End Lists
Saving an External Table of ContentsIndex ProcessingLet make Remember the DetailsWhere to Go from Here

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The `awk` Programming Language

A program is a solution to a problem, formulated in the syntax of a particular language. It is a small step from writing complex editing scripts with sed to writing programs with awk, but it is a step that many writers may fear to take. “Script” is less loaded a term than “program” for many people, but an editing script is still a program.

Each programming language has its own “style” that lends itself to performing certain tasks better than other languages. Anyone can scan a reference page and quickly learn a language’s syntax, but a close examination of programs written in that language is usually required before you understand how to apply this knowledge. In this sense, a programming language is simply another tool; you need to know not only how to use it but also when and why it is used.

We recommend that you learn more than one programming language. We have already looked at a number of different programs or scripts written for and executed by the shell, ex, and sed. As you learn the awk programming language, you will notice similarities and differences. Not insignificantly, an awk script looks different from a shell script. The awk language shares many of the same basic constructs as the shell’s programming language, yet awk requires a slightly different syntax. The awk program’s basic operations are not much different from sed’s: reading standard ...