4.3BSD-UWisc/man/cat1/sed.1
SED(1) UNIX Programmer's Manual SED(1)
NAME
sed - stream editor
SYNOPSIS
sed [ -n ] [ -e script ] [ -f sfile ] [ file ] ...
DESCRIPTION
_S_e_d copies the named _f_i_l_e_s (standard input default) to the
standard output, edited according to a script of commands.
The -f option causes the script to be taken from file _s_f_i_l_e;
these options accumulate. If there is just one -e option
and no -f's, the flag -e may be omitted. The -n option
suppresses the default output.
A script consists of editing commands, one per line, of the
following form:
[address [, address] ] function [arguments]
In normal operation _s_e_d cyclically copies a line of input
into a _p_a_t_t_e_r_n _s_p_a_c_e (unless there is something left after a
`D' command), applies in sequence all commands whose
_a_d_d_r_e_s_s_e_s select that pattern space, and at the end of the
script copies the pattern space to the standard output
(except under -n) and deletes the pattern space.
An _a_d_d_r_e_s_s is either a decimal number that counts input
lines cumulatively across files, a `$' that addresses the
last line of input, or a context address, `/regular expres-
sion/', in the style of _e_d(1) modified thus:
The escape sequence `\n' matches a newline embedded in
the pattern space.
A command line with no addresses selects every pattern
space.
A command line with one address selects each pattern space
that matches the address.
A command line with two addresses selects the inclusive
range from the first pattern space that matches the first
address through the next pattern space that matches the
second. (If the second address is a number less than or
equal to the line number first selected, only one line is
selected.) Thereafter the process is repeated, looking again
for the first address.
Editing commands can be applied only to non-selected pattern
spaces by use of the negation function `!' (below).
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In the following list of functions the maximum number of
permissible addresses for each function is indicated in
parentheses.
An argument denoted _t_e_x_t consists of one or more lines, all
but the last of which end with `\' to hide the newline.
Backslashes in text are treated like backslashes in the
replacement string of an `s' command, and may be used to
protect initial blanks and tabs against the stripping that
is done on every script line.
An argument denoted _r_f_i_l_e or _w_f_i_l_e must terminate the com-
mand line and must be preceded by exactly one blank. Each
_w_f_i_l_e is created before processing begins. There can be at
most 10 distinct _w_f_i_l_e arguments.
(1)a\
_t_e_x_t
Append. Place _t_e_x_t on the output before reading the
next input line.
(2)b _l_a_b_e_l
Branch to the `:' command bearing the _l_a_b_e_l. If _l_a_b_e_l
is empty, branch to the end of the script.
(2)c\
_t_e_x_t
Change. Delete the pattern space. With 0 or 1 address
or at the end of a 2-address range, place _t_e_x_t on the
output. Start the next cycle.
(2)d Delete the pattern space. Start the next cycle.
(2)D Delete the initial segment of the pattern space through
the first newline. Start the next cycle.
(2)g Replace the contents of the pattern space by the con-
tents of the hold space.
(2)G Append the contents of the hold space to the pattern
space.
(2)h Replace the contents of the hold space by the contents
of the pattern space.
(2)H Append the contents of the pattern space to the hold
space.
(1)i\
_t_e_x_t
Insert. Place _t_e_x_t on the standard output.
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(2)n Copy the pattern space to the standard output. Replace
the pattern space with the next line of input.
(2)N Append the next line of input to the pattern space with
an embedded newline. (The current line number
changes.)
(2)p Print. Copy the pattern space to the standard output.
(2)P Copy the initial segment of the pattern space through
the first newline to the standard output.
(1)q Quit. Branch to the end of the script. Do not start a
new cycle.
(2)r _r_f_i_l_e
Read the contents of _r_f_i_l_e. Place them on the output
before reading the next input line.
(2)s/_r_e_g_u_l_a_r _e_x_p_r_e_s_s_i_o_n/_r_e_p_l_a_c_e_m_e_n_t/_f_l_a_g_s
Substitute the _r_e_p_l_a_c_e_m_e_n_t string for instances of the
_r_e_g_u_l_a_r _e_x_p_r_e_s_s_i_o_n in the pattern space. Any character
may be used instead of `/'. For a fuller description
see _e_d(1). _F_l_a_g_s is zero or more of
g Global. Substitute for all nonoverlapping
instances of the _r_e_g_u_l_a_r _e_x_p_r_e_s_s_i_o_n rather than
just the first one.
p Print the pattern space if a replacement was made.
w _w_f_i_l_e
Write. Append the pattern space to _w_f_i_l_e if a
replacement was made.
(2)t _l_a_b_e_l
Test. Branch to the `:' command bearing the _l_a_b_e_l if
any substitutions have been made since the most recent
reading of an input line or execution of a `t'. If
_l_a_b_e_l is empty, branch to the end of the script.
(2)w _w_f_i_l_e
Write. Append the pattern space to _w_f_i_l_e.
(2)x Exchange the contents of the pattern and hold spaces.
(2)y/_s_t_r_i_n_g_1/_s_t_r_i_n_g_2/
Transform. Replace all occurrences of characters in
_s_t_r_i_n_g_1 with the corresponding character in _s_t_r_i_n_g_2.
The lengths of _s_t_r_i_n_g_1 and _s_t_r_i_n_g_2 must be equal.
(2)! _f_u_n_c_t_i_o_n
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Don't. Apply the _f_u_n_c_t_i_o_n (or group, if _f_u_n_c_t_i_o_n is
`{') only to lines _n_o_t selected by the address(es).
(0): _l_a_b_e_l
This command does nothing; it bears a _l_a_b_e_l for `b' and
`t' commands to branch to.
(1)= Place the current line number on the standard output as
a line.
(2){ Execute the following commands through a matching `}'
only when the pattern space is selected.
(0) An empty command is ignored.
SEE ALSO
ed(1), grep(1), awk(1), lex(1)
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