Re: How to run an awk command on file in emacs - using minGW on Windows

[Eli Zaretskii]

> Date: Tue, 17 Sep 2013 11:39:59 +0100
> From: Angus Comber <anguscomber@gmail.com>
> 
> If I am visiting a file in emacs I want to be able to run a simple awk
> command, eg
> 
>     awk /Sam/ test.txt
> 
> How would I construct this.

"M-! awk /Sam/ test.txt" (without the quotes) works for me.

> I tried:
> 
>     m-! - to be able to run a shell cmd
> 
>     awk '/Sam/' test.txt
> 
> But then I get this error:
> 
>     awk: c:/MinGW/msys/1.0/Sam/ { print }
>     awk:  ^ syntax error
>     awk: c:/MinGW/msys/1.0/Sam/ { print }
>     awk:                        ^ syntax error
>     errcount: 2

You are using MSYS tools from a native Windows Emacs, and you are
paying the price.

> I also tried awk "/Sam/" test.txt and get same error.

Right, MSYS does that with both flavors of quotes.

> Running just awk '{ print }' test.txt works

Because the argument doesn't start with a slash.

> I am running on Windows 7 using minGW and my shell is set to:
> 
>     echo %SHELL%
>     C:/MinGW/msys/1.0/bin/bash.exe

That's your problem: why do you set shell to the MSYS Bash?  I suggest
not to do that.  Leave it at the default.

> How do I escape the /Sam/ ?  It thinks it is part of the directory to the
> exe I think?

Yes.

Try this:

  awk ' /Sam/' test.txt

i.e. an extra blank before the first slash.

But I really suggest not to use MSYS tools from Emacs.  There are
native (MinGW) ports available.