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From: allyn@sdcsvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.unix.questions
Subject: Re: sed - match newlines on input (the answer)
Message-ID: <2842@sdcsvax.UCSD.EDU>
Date: Wed, 11-Mar-87 14:23:30 EST
Article-I.D.: sdcsvax.2842
Posted: Wed Mar 11 14:23:30 1987
Date-Received: Thu, 12-Mar-87 22:59:49 EST
References: <570@hao.UCAR.EDU> <1987Mar10.180919.2869@gpu.utcs.toronto.edu>
Organization: U.C. San Diego
Lines: 32

In article <570@hao.UCAR.EDU>, bill@hao.UCAR.EDU (Bill Roberts) wants to
use sed to match a pattern over multiple lines.

the trick to sed is that you need to tell it when to join the lines
before it can look for multiple line patterns.  the N command is
used for this.

try this command:

sed -f sedinput < inputfile

with the "sedinput" file containing:
/^one$/N
/^one\ntwo$/N
/^one\ntwo\nthree$/s/\n/, /g

with an "inputfile" consisting of:
zero
one
two
three
four

it produces as output:
zero
one, two, three
four

-- 
 From the virtual mind of Allyn Fratkin            allyn@sdcsvax.ucsd.edu    or
                          EMU Project              {ucbvax, decvax, ihnp4}
                          U.C. San Diego                         !sdcsvax!allyn