how to use variables in SED [duplicate]

Question

I have an xml file with line below

<config-root>/temp</config-root>

Using 'sed' is bash shell script I want to replace the line, the 'sed' script is below

sed -i 's/<config-root>\(.*\)<\/config-root>/<config-root>\"${dirPath}"<\/config-root>/' Plan.xml

The 'sed' is resulting in

<config-root>"${dirPath}"</config-root>

I am expecting the line to be replaced as /opt/shared

Can anyone let me know what is wrong in my script? Basically I want to use variable in ‘sed’

Thanks in advance, Babu

Use -r or -E switch to enable ERE. Use different delimiters to avoid crazy escaping. — jaypal singh
– jaypal singh, Commented Mar 27, 2014 at 20:43

hek2mgl · Accepted Answer · 2014-03-27 20:39:27Z

1

You can use bash to place the variable in the sed script: End the sed script using the single quote ', place the variable in double quotes " and continue the sed program with another single quote ':

sed 's~<config-root>[^<]*</config-root>~<config-root>'"$variable"'</config-root>~' Plan.xml

I would encourage you to use delimiter different from / because the / is part of the pattern (and of the variable) and would need to get escaped otherwise. I used ~ as the delimiter.

edited Mar 27, 2014 at 20:39

answered Mar 27, 2014 at 20:33

hek2mgl

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Tech Tech Over a year ago

Thank you , with your suggestion it is working

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