Re: [bug-gawk] FPAT $field assignment garbages $0

[arnold]

Hello,

Alex fxmbsw7 Ratchev <address@hidden> wrote:

> echo foo bar | awk -v FPAT=foo '{ $1 = "za"; print }'
> za
>
> GNU Awk 4.2.1, API: 2.0
>
> 'za bar' was expected

You are misunderstanding what FPAT does. It describes the fields, not
what is between them:

        $ gawk --version
        GNU Awk 4.2.1, API: 2.0 (GNU MPFR 3.1.4, GNU MP 6.1.0)

        $ echo foo bar foo | gawk -v FPAT=foo '{ print NF }'
        2

        $ echo foo bar foo | gawk -v FPAT=foo '{ print $1, $2 }'
        foo foo

In the example you give, there is only one field, and your assignment
replaces it.

In short, gawk is working as expected.

Thanks,

Arnold