AWK text grab

Original Message

Name: user57
Date: March 31, 2008 at 02:28:38 Pacific
Subject: AWK text grab
OS: AIX 5.3
CPU/Ram: 1.9/9
Model/Manufacturer: IBM/550

Comment:

I'm looking for an awk routine to print lines between the characters "[" and "]"
Input file:
AAAAAA[grab this bit]AAAAAAA
[grab this bit]BBBBBBB
CCCCCCCCC[ grab this
bit]DDDDDDDDDDD
[grab this bit]
Desired output:
grab this bit
grab this bit
grab this bit
grab this bit
Could anyone assist please?

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Response Number 1

Name: ghostdog
Date: March 31, 2008 at 02:52:41 Pacific
Subject: AWK text grab

Reply: (edit)

considering you are using AIX, and tested only with your sample input


awk '
/\[/ && /\]/{
    match($0,/\[/)
    s=RSTART
    match($0,/\]/)
    e=RSTART
    print substr($0,s+1,e-s-1)
    }
/\[/ && !/\]/ { 
    match($0,/\[/)
    printf "%s " ,substr($0,RSTART+1)
    s=RSTART
    getline
    match($0,/\]/)
    e=RSTART
    print substr($0,0,e-1)
}' file

output:

# ./test.sh
grab this bit
grab this bit
grab this bit
grab this bit

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Response Number 2

Name: user57
Date: March 31, 2008 at 03:42:58 Pacific
Subject: AWK text grab

Reply: (edit)

Many thanks. That's an interesting solution.

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