I want to edit the first line in a large file. Using VI editor I amn't able to do, so that I thought to do using head and tail functions and then done successfully. Is there any way to achieve this in single command? Likewise anyone can give a single command to go nth line a file!
I know we can achive this using "head -n filename | tail -1", but I want to know any other option to get n'th line in a file.

Thanks and Regards,
AnjiReddy.

Vi will be the best to do so if your file is not bigger than 2 gigs. If yes, then do the following

1. open VI without a file name.
2. In the command mode, type :set directory=<any directory with enough free space>
3. now open the file using :e <file name>

HOpe this works for you.

Using vi, you can open the file and position the cursor at a given line number e.g. line 5 like this:

vi +5 filename

Hi FishMonger,

It's working great!!!

Thanks,
Thennarasu Eswaran

In vi editor,
Press ESc
type :
and type the line number the cursor gets moved to the needed line.

(or)

press ESC
type G
type the line number
(If didn't specify by default the cursor will move to the last line in the file)

Thanks,
Thennarasu Eswaran