Search for string in a file and extract another string to a variable

Shell Programming and Scripting
1

Hi, guys. I have one question:

I need to search for a string in a file, and then extract another string from the file and assign it to a variable.

For example:

the contents of the file (group) is below:
...
ftp:x:23:
mail:x:34
...
testing:x:2001
sales:x:2002
development:x:2003
...

I want to search for string "testing", then extract group id (2001) on the same line and assign it to a variable.

Can anybody help me with me question?

Thank you very much for your time in advance

-K.D

2

Found the answer.

3

Please include your solution in the future to help others out...

FYI... the following should work. Note that the -F parameter is to specify a field separator, in this case, ":".

In a Bourne shell

MYVAR=`awk -F: '/testing/ { print $3 }' filename`
export MYVAR
4

why do you need to export?
Most likely the OPs meant this:

MYVAR=`awk -F: '$1 == "testing" { print $3;exit}' filename`
5

Hi, guys. Thanks for replying.

And I will add answer next. Apologize for that:)

6

Exactly, It work!

7

Meh... I'm too old school.. I always export for completeness... not necessary in this case, since all variables are internal to the script itself...

Good catch and good point.