Question

i would like to convert the data.txt file into the following output using awk 1liner

cat data.txt

• personA neta netb netc
• personB meta metb metc metd

….

output:

• personA has {neta netb netc} items in his bag
• personB has {meta metb metc metd} items in his bag

Answer 1

this is a good use for subtr() and index().

awk '{print $1FS"has {"substr($0,index($0,$2))"} itmes in his bag."}' data.txt

output:

personA has {neta netb netc} itmes in his bag.

personB has {meta metb metc metd} itmes in his bag.