Parsing simple text file and integrate content in bash script

Question

I want to automatically parse a text file with a content like this:

car 12345 W
train 54321 D

To be integrated in a new bash file. The content after that should look like that:

curl http://example.com/?vehicle=car&number=12345&period=W
curl http://example.com/?vehicle=train&number=54321&period=D

My problem is that I really don't now how to realize that or which program to use, sed, awk, etc..

What do I have to do?

bash, awk, sed... all fine.. what's the problem. please show some code. — Karoly Horvath
– Karoly Horvath, Commented Sep 14, 2013 at 19:35

gniourf_gniourf · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-14 19:55:02Z

5

Here's probably the funniest answer: assume your file is file.txt, then just do this:

printf 'curl http://example.com/?vehicle=%s&number=%s&period=%s\n' $(<file.txt)

It:

is 100% pure bash,
has no explicit loops
is the shortest answer
is very funny

Hope this helps :)

answered Sep 14, 2013 at 19:55

gniourf_gniourf

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1 Comment

ceving Over a year ago

This will fail for large files, because it will exceed the maximum number of arguments.

ceving · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-14 19:35:33Z

4

Try this:

while read vehicle number period ; do
    echo curl http://example.com/\?vehicle="$vehicle"\&number="$number"\&period="$period"
done < input.txt

answered Sep 14, 2013 at 19:35

ceving

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1 Comment

konsolebox Over a year ago

+1 It would actually look better if you place everything around doublequotes and just use ${var} formats.

score 2 · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-14 19:43:39Z

2

Maybe use sed to interleave the URL arguments with other parts. Guessing from the sample you posted:

sed 's/\([a-z]*\) \([0-9]*\) \([A-Z]\)/curl http:\/\/example.com\/?vehicle=\1\&number=\2\&period=\3/'

edited Sep 14, 2013 at 19:43

answered Sep 14, 2013 at 19:35

user529758

1 Comment

user529758 Over a year ago

@ceving If you say so, I believe you even without a proof. My comment is then directed towards whomever did.

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