#!/bin/bash
# Another version of the "column totaler" script
#+ that adds up a specified column (of numbers) in the target file.
# This uses indirect references.
ARGS=2
E_WRONGARGS=65
if [ $# -ne "$ARGS" ] # Check for proper no. of command line args.
then
echo "Usage: `basename $0` filename column-number"
exit $E_WRONGARGS
fi
filename=$1
column_number=$2
#===== Same as original script, up to this point =====#
# A multi-line awk script is invoked by awk ' ..... '
# Begin awk script.
# ------------------------------------------------
awk "
{ total += \$${column_number} # indirect reference
}
END {
print total
}
" "$filename"
# ------------------------------------------------
# End awk script.
# Indirect variable reference avoids the hassles
#+ of referencing a shell variable within the embedded awk script.
# Thanks, Stephane Chazelas.
exit 0