Скачать или смотреть How to Split Lines After Single Quotes into Newlines Using awk

This guide explains how to convert a text file with single quotes into a new line-separated format using `awk`, ensuring easier data processing.
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How to Split Lines After Single Quotes into Newlines Using awk

Have you ever faced the challenge of converting text files from one format to another, particularly in environments like UNIX? If you have a text file filled with quoted strings and you want them split into new lines, you're in the right place! This guide will walk you through a simple solution using awk, specifically GNU awk, to organize your data into a more manageable format.

The Problem

Let's consider a real-world example to illustrate this issue. Imagine you have a text file containing the following lines:

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What you want is to split this line after each single quote — essentially formatting your data as follows:

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The problem extends beyond just organizing quotes; it transforms into a larger question of converting files from Windows-style end-of-line (EOL) characters to Unix-style formats. Despite trying to run a command like:

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You might receive an error like:

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This is a common issue when files are transferred between different operating systems, especially from Windows to Linux.

The Solution: Using awk

To split the text based on single quotes and format it correctly, using awk can be an effective approach. Here's how to do it step by step.

Step 1: Install awk if Necessary

Before we begin, ensure that GNU awk is installed on your Linux system. You can generally check by running:

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Step 2: Prepare Your Command

You can achieve the desired output with the following command:

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Breakdown of the Command

gawk: This calls the GNU version of awk.

-v FPAT="([^ ]+ )|('[^']+ ')": This sets the Field Pattern (FPAT) to match either any sequence of characters without spaces or a string surrounded by single quotes.

-v OFS="\n": This sets the Output Field Separator (OFS) to a newline, which means that awk will print each matching field on a new line.

{$1=$1}1: This is a common trick in awk to force the output of the modified line.

Step 3: Execute the Command

Replace "file" with the name of your input file and run the command in your terminal. The output will look like this:

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Conclusion

By using awk, you successfully split the lines after single quotes, making your text file far easier to manage. If you're converting text files from one format to another, especially from Windows to Linux, always verify the EOL characters, as they can lead to various errors.

If you've faced similar issues or have questions, feel free to comment below!