[ale] Bash question

Fletch fletch at phydeaux.org
Thu Sep 5 11:06:02 EDT 2002


>>>>> "esoteric" == esoteric  <Geoffrey> writes:

    esoteric> Understanding that this was originally a bash question,
    esoteric> I'd suggest Perl is really the proper tool.  I'm just
    esoteric> waiting for Fletch to chime in here... :)


        Well, if you're going to twist my arm . . .


perl -e '$/="=*\n";while(<>){rand($.)<1&&do{chomp;$l=$_}}print$l' data        


        That presumes that the "=*\n" delimiter follows items (yours
basically had it preceding it, so you get an empty first record).
It's basically the same format as fortune data files (which use "%\n"
instead; see man strfile, man fortune; replacing "=*\n" with "%\n"
gives you a poor man's fortune replacement).  As for an explanation
what it's doing, see perldoc -q 'random line'.


        Not that I in any way condone automatically sending people
jokes via email.  Come on, it's not the late 1980s any more. :)

-- 
Fletch                | "If you find my answers frightening,       __`'/|
fletch at phydeaux.org   |  Vincent, you should cease askin'          \ o.O'
770 933-0600 x211(w)  |  scary questions." -- Jules                =(___)=
770 294-0820 (m)      |                                               U

---
This message has been sent through the ALE general discussion list.
See http://www.ale.org/mailing-lists.shtml for more info. Problems should be 
sent to listmaster at ale dot org.






More information about the Ale mailing list