Replace one string to another string having forward slash (in both the string) using sed

Question

I have one file i need to replace below src string to dst string with below values.

src="59/291259.wav"
dest="58/291258.wav"

echo "source string= $src    replacement string= $dest"

I'm trying below sed command, but getting below errors. could anyone help on thihs.

sed -i "s/$src/$dest/g" test.xml

Error: sed: -e expression #1, char 19: unknown option to `s'

This question is now cross-posted on Unix+Linux: https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/534077/replace-one-string-to-another-string-having-forward-slash-in-both-the-string-u — John1024, Aug 06 '19 at 05:50

score 3 · Answer 1 · answered Aug 05 '19 at 13:15

3

Sed is getting confused by the slashes in your strings. Try using a different delimiter:

sed -i "s|$src|$dest|g" test.xml

answered Aug 05 '19 at 13:15

Beta

Can you be sure that `$src` and `$dest` will never contain `|`? – Toby Speight Aug 05 '19 at 13:21
@TobySpeight: Good point. – Beta Aug 05 '19 at 14:36
But in my script i have slash as string. like below. /apps/files/data/56/song.wav --> this i have to replace with /apps/files/datadir/57/song2.wav – Sajid Mohammad Aug 06 '19 at 05:41
@TobySpeight Yes in my $src and $dest will never contain |. it contains only /. – Sajid Mohammad Aug 06 '19 at 05:53

Toby Speight · Accepted Answer · 2019-08-06T07:24:49.873

-1

If using Bash, then replace the slashes with backslash-prefixed ones:

sed -i "s/${src//\//\\/}/${dest//\//\\/}/g" test.xml

This is more robust than trying to find an alternate delimiter that "can't occur" within the variables.

You may want to replace other sed-significant characters, such as & within $dest, and \ itself in both.

edited Aug 06 '19 at 07:24

answered Aug 05 '19 at 13:25

Toby Speight

after using above sed still getting the error. source string= 59/291259.wav replacement string= 58/291258.wav sed: -e expression #1, char 19: unknown option to `s' – Sajid Mohammad Aug 06 '19 at 05:40
Sorry about the typo @Sajid - I've fixed it now. – Toby Speight Aug 06 '19 at 07:25
Thanks, @Toby. It's working fine. – Sajid Mohammad Aug 06 '19 at 07:30

2 Answers2