how to append a line to the end of the file

sachin_mt · #1 (**permalink**) 04-06-04, 09:54

Hi,

pl. provide the command to append a text say "i am fine" to the end of a file say abc.txt using shell script.

-sachi

Damian Ibbotson · #2 (**permalink**) 04-06-04, 10:13

Quote:

Originally posted by sachin_mt
Hi,

pl. provide the command to append a text say "i am fine" to the end of a file say abc.txt using shell script.

-sachi

echo "i am fine" >> abc.txt

aigles · #3 (**permalink**) 04-06-04, 10:15

You can also do something like this (if you are vicious) :

Code:

# With sed
sed '$a\
i am fine' abc.txt > tmp.txt ; mv tmp.txt abc.txt

# With awk
awk '1 END {print "i am fine"}' abc.txt > tmp.txt ; mv tmp.txt abc.txt

# Other way
{ cat abc.txt; echo 'i am fine'; } > tmp.txt ; mv tmp.txt abc.txt

Damian Ibbotson · #4 (**permalink**) 04-06-04, 10:35

Quote:

Code:

{ cat abc.txt; echo 'i am fine'; } > tmp.txt ; mv tmp.txt abc.txt

While I'm not sure if this is necessary for the task the OP has outlined, the following method to avoid the use of a temp file might be of interest...

Code:

( rm abc.txt; { cat; echo "i am fine"; } > abc.txt ) < abc.txt

Basically, the use of the subshell allows the filename 'abc.txt' to be removed from the file system while continuing to hold the the file open. Because the filename no longer exists, the process within the subshell can create that filename without destroying the input.

Not to everyone's taste but I think it's a pretty cool trick!

aigles · #5 (**permalink**) 04-06-04, 10:49

Cool !
But i think i will never use this technique...

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