2

I wanted a simple way to process text in my clipboard without having to create a file. I tried using the following line: 

awk '{print $1}' <(cat)

but I couldn't send cat the EOF character using ctrl+d like I normally do. I have a feeling it has something to do with a conflict of the file descriptor its creating to hold the data from cat, but I'm not entirely sure.

In the interim I'm using here documents, but it's ugly.

awk '{print $1}' <<KITTENMITTENStextblahKITTENMITTENS

The problem is it needs to be rather portable (across CLI commands). Any idea on a more elegant solution? Know why the cat line doesn't work?

4
  • 2
    What if you specify absolutely no parameter? awk '{print $1}', Enter, paste with middle button, Ctrl-D.
    – manatwork
    May 1, 2012 at 15:56
  • I had originally wanted to do that, but i need to be able to use it with programs that only accept files as arguments :(
    – user488244
    May 1, 2012 at 16:02
  • 1
    How are awk and cat related to your clipboard? What value does <(cat) add? Why not just awk '{print $1}' ENTER?
    – Mikel
    May 1, 2012 at 16:12
  • 1
    Use - if the command supports that syntax, or /dev/fd/0 or /dev/stdin if your systems has that.
    – jw013
    May 1, 2012 at 16:36

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
2

Is xclip available on your machine? With -o parameter it outputs the current X selection to the standard output:

xclip -o | awk '{print $1}'
1
  • Thats a good idea, but i cant rely on xclip. I do a lot of work over ssh, and sometimes on Macs
    – user488244
    May 1, 2012 at 16:03

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .