I need to split a line with two string separated by an space like: key value.
I've tried:
key=$(awk -FS=" " {print $1} line)
value=$(awk -FS=" " {print $2} line)
But I'm getting:
awk: line 2: missing } near end of file
Any ideas?
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5 Answers
An awk script on the command line should be single quoted:
awk -F ' ' '{ print $1 }' filename
Notice the single quotes around { ... }, and also that the correct way to set FS is through -F, or through -v FS=... or in a BEGIN block, but not with -FS=....
Your command, the way you have written it, also assumes that line is a file name.
If $line is a string with a single space in it, you can separate it into two strings with
first_part=${line% *} # removes the space and everything after it
second_part=${line#* } # removes the space and everything before it
Likewise, if $line is a string with a = in it:
first_part=${line%=*} # removes the = and everything after it
second_part=${line#*=} # removes the = and everything before it
You can also use an array for splitting a line on spaces:
if line is a string
arr=($line)
key="${arr[0]}"
value="${arr[1]}"
Note:- If the first word of $line is * then the arr array will contain all the filenames in the current directory. So to be on the safe side and avoid such situations , use
set -f; arr=($line); set +f key="${arr[0]}" value="${arr[1]}"
If line is file
while read -r words
do
set -- $words
key=$1
value=$2
done < line
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linein the question is a filename.2018-06-28 07:24:14 +00:00Commented Jun 28, 2018 at 7:24 -
@Kusalananda i thought it was a string, edited my answer for both the situationsArushix– Arushix2018-06-28 07:30:30 +00:00Commented Jun 28, 2018 at 7:30
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In the first snippet, you are leaving the variable unquoted to employ word splitting. However you are also subject to filename expansion. If the first word of $line is
*then the arr array will contain all the filenames in the current directory. You will have toset -f; arr=($line); set +fglenn jackman– glenn jackman2018-06-28 11:30:57 +00:00Commented Jun 28, 2018 at 11:30 -
@Kusalananda, I wouldn't assume that it's a file, given the apparent experience level of the question. I would put more trust in the words: "I need to split a line..."glenn jackman– glenn jackman2018-06-28 11:37:40 +00:00Commented Jun 28, 2018 at 11:37
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@glennjackman thanks for the suggestion, i did not considered that situation, added in my answer too :)Arushix– Arushix2018-06-28 12:13:41 +00:00Commented Jun 28, 2018 at 12:13
read
Just use read:
read key value
Everything before the first space on the line goes into key and everything after it (including any additional spaces) goes into value.
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simple but valuable, thank you :)xeruf– xeruf2022-02-06 19:39:07 +00:00Commented Feb 6, 2022 at 19:39
You can easily achieve this, without using awk, that is inteded for more complex data manipulation.
cut bash command is all you need.
key="$(echo "$line" | cut -d ' ' -f 1)"
value="$(echo "$line" | cut -d ' ' -f 2)"
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1Quote your variablesglenn jackman– glenn jackman2018-06-28 11:32:57 +00:00Commented Jun 28, 2018 at 11:32
You can use the shell's parameter expansion facilities instead of calling out to an external program:
key=${line%% *} # from the end remove the longest string matching
# a space followed by any characters
value=${line#* } # from the start remove the shortest string matching
# any characters followed by a space
