how to remove specific portion from a file using a bash script

Question

I have a file abc.txt and I want to remove specific portion in a file from a bash script.

#######################Media######################
[Media]
       comment = Media Files
       path = /share22
       browseable = yes
       read only = yes
       guest only = no
#######################end#######################
#######################Add#######################
[Add]
       comment = Media Files
       path = /share33
       browseable = yes
       read only = yes
       guest only = no
#######################end#######################
#######################Added#####################
[Added]
       comment = Media Files
       path = /share44
       browseable = yes
       read only = yes
       guest only = no
#######################end#######################

and remove below portion from file

#######################Add#######################
[Add]
       comment = Media Files
       path = /share33
       browseable = yes
       read only = yes
       guest only = no
#######################end#######################

how can I remove a first portion, second portion or last portion?

Kindly help me!

Please read stackoverflow.com/help/how-to-ask , stackoverflow.com/help/dont-ask , stackoverflow.com/help/mcve and take the tour before posting more Qs here. Good luck. — shellter
– shellter, Commented Sep 16, 2017 at 18:42

Walter A · Accepted Answer · 2017-09-16 20:54:48Z

2

The given input is fit for an easy solution:

awk '/##Add##/,/##end##/ {next};1'  abc.txt

or

sed '/##Add##/,/##end##/d' abc.txt

answered Sep 16, 2017 at 20:54

Walter A

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Comments

Akshay Hegde · Accepted Answer · 2017-09-16 19:20:14Z

1

Awk suits best for this kind of text file handling, you may use below one

awk '/^[#]+(Add)[#]+/{f=1}f && /^[#]+(end)[#]+/{f=0; next}!f' file

# OR combined one

awk '/^[#]+(Add|end)[#]+/{if(f){f=0; next}if(/^[#]+(Add)[#]+/)f=1}!f' file

Test Results:

Input

$ cat file
#######################Media######################
[Media]
       comment = Media Files
       path = /share22
       browseable = yes
       read only = yes
       guest only = no
#######################end#######################
#######################Add#######################
[Add]
       comment = Media Files
       path = /share33
       browseable = yes
       read only = yes
       guest only = no
#######################end#######################
#######################Added#####################
[Added]
       comment = Media Files
       path = /share44
       browseable = yes
       read only = yes
       guest only = no
#######################end#######################

Output - 1 :

$ awk '/^[#]+(Add)[#]+/{f=1}f && /^[#]+(end)[#]+/{f=0; next}!f' file
#######################Media######################
[Media]
       comment = Media Files
       path = /share22
       browseable = yes
       read only = yes
       guest only = no
#######################end#######################
#######################Added#####################
[Added]
       comment = Media Files
       path = /share44
       browseable = yes
       read only = yes
       guest only = no
#######################end#######################

Output - 2 :

$ awk '/^[#]+(Add|end)[#]+/{if(f){f=0; next}if(/^[#]+(Add)[#]+/)f=1}!f' file
#######################Media######################
[Media]
       comment = Media Files
       path = /share22
       browseable = yes
       read only = yes
       guest only = no
#######################end#######################
#######################Added#####################
[Added]
       comment = Media Files
       path = /share44
       browseable = yes
       read only = yes
       guest only = no
#######################end#######################

edited Sep 16, 2017 at 19:20

answered Sep 16, 2017 at 19:13

Akshay Hegde

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5 Comments

Zubair Latif Over a year ago

Thanks a lot my issue is resolved. Can you explain the command because I'm new and it'll very helpful for me.

Akshay Hegde Over a year ago

@ZubairMughal you are welcome, you may read this stackoverflow.com/help/someone-answers

Zubair Latif Over a year ago

Can you please explain?

Akshay Hegde Over a year ago

@ZubairMughal: awk '/^[#]+(Add)[#]+/{f=1}f && /^[#]+(end)[#]+/{f=0; next}!f' variable f will be 1 when line starts with one or more # (Add) and one or more # , when variable f is set and line starts with one or more # (end) and one more # variable f becomes 0; and next means go to next line, any expression after next keyword will be skipped, }!f remember NOT gate, as long as variable f is zero awk prints line/row/record

Akshay Hegde Over a year ago

@ZubairMughal sed '/##Add##/,/##end##/d' file walter has already given you

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