How to add string to file using sed instead of from file

Question

red    
blue    
water    
gray    
white

I want to use

sed '/blue/,/gray/!b;//!d;/blue/r file2' file1

But instead of file2 i want to enter new string directly in command. Can any one show me how to do that.

You mean you want to apply the sed operation on a output of a command? Can you explain more? — Inian
– Inian, Commented Dec 8, 2017 at 8:00
@Inian No. I don't want to get new content from file2 but instead directly put string(new text) in this sed '/blue/,/gray/!b;//!d;/blue/r file2' file1 I dont know the syntax for that — HardikHarpal
– HardikHarpal, Commented Dec 8, 2017 at 8:04

sat · Accepted Answer · 2017-12-08 08:11:22Z

1

You can use this sed:

sed '/blue/,/gray/!b;//!d;/blue/a SOMEDATA' file

From man sed:

a \
  text

Append text, which has each embedded newline preceded by a backslash.

Another example:

$ sed '/blue/,/gray/!b;//!d;/blue/a \
> LINE 1 \
> LINE 2 \
> LINE 3' file

red    
blue    
LINE 1 
LINE 2 
LINE 3
gray    
white

answered Dec 8, 2017 at 8:06

sat

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1 Comment

yes it worked. so, Is it /a for append and /r for read from file?