Script to append data to the first line in a file

[Usha_madhavan]

Hi all,

We need to generate a script which will append to first line in a file in the 100th position.

We have an ASCII file generated from the ERP system. The ASCII file can have n number of lines in it. We need to append some contents to the first line in the file before processing the file further.

Every flat file will have an identifier in the first line. For example: Purchase order will have “Purchase Order” as the first line. BOL will have “Bill of Lading” as identifier in the first line. We need to append the string “PRINTER: ” in the first line starting from 100th position.

Request your help in writing the script.

Regards,
Usha

[James R. Ferguson]

Hi Usha:

I believe that this is answered here:

http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=1088911

Please see my last post therein.

Regards!

...JRF...

[Usha_madhavan]

Hi James,

Thanks a lot for the quick response.

But when I execute the script I get an error as follows:

Syntax error at line 3 : `{' is not expected.

What could be the possible error?

I am a novice in UNIX.

Regards,
Usha

[Usha_madhavan]

Hi James,

I am sorry the error is on line 2.

Syntax error at line 2 : `{' is not expected.

Regards,
Usha

[spex]

Usha,

#!/usr/bin/sh
FILE=
TEXT=
FILET=/tmp/$(basename ${FILE}).tmp
echo "$(echo $(head -1 ${FILE}) $(perl -e 'print " "x100') | cut -c1-100)" ${TEXT} > ${FILET}
sed -n '2,$p' < ${FILE} >> ${FILET}
cp -f ${FILET} ${FILE}
exit 0

PCS

[James R. Ferguson]

Hi Usha:

If you cut-and-paste exactly this (from the post I referenced) into an empty file:

#!/usr/bin/perl -ni.old
if ( $. == 1 ) {
if ( length($_) < 100 ) {
chomp;
printf "%-100s%s\n", $_, "WORD";
}
else {
s/(.{100})(.*)/$1WORD$2/;
print;
}
next;
}
print;

...then having called the script "myfilter", you should do:

# ./myfilter myfile

...where "myfile" is the file to be changed.

If you added "#!/usr/bin/sh" at the top of the script, then that is your problem! Copy and paste exactly what I wrote.

Regards!

...JRF...