getting the next number

[Angela Swyers_1]

In a file I have a column that has numbers in it. I need to sort that column, get the largest number and add 1 to it. Anyone have any ideas how to do that?

[Sundar_7 · Accepted solution]

Say if your file has the following format

text text2 677
text3 text4 788

then

typeset -i LARGEST=0
LARGEST=$(sort -nbk 3 inputfile | tail -1 | awk '{print $3}')
(( LARGEST=LARGEST + 1 ))
echo $LARGEST

[Govind_3]

1)cat filename |awk '{ print $colnum }'|sort
$colnum is the column you want to select

2)cut -d" " -f$colnum |sort

-Cheers
Govind

[Angela Swyers_1]

Thank you. That got me pointed in the right direction.