[SOLVED] sed: bad option in substitution expression when trying to replace a string

Issue

tr file and trying to change data in it and getting this substitution error.

my file data is

variable "aws_spoke_gateways" {
  default = {
    spoke1 = {
      name         = "AWS-UE2-Spoke1-GW"
    },
    spoke2 = {
      name         = "AWS-UE2-Spoke1-GW"
    }
  }
}

And My desired output is

 variable "aws_spoke_gateways" {
      default = {
        spoke1 = {
          name         = "myname"
        },
        spoke2 = {
          name         = "AWS-UE2-Spoke1-GW"
        }
      }
    }

EDIT 1

I want to change the values of name , size , and vpc and both spoke1 and spoke2

variable "aws_spoke_gateways" {
  default = {
    spoke1 = {
      name         = "AZ-EU-Spoke1-GW"
      size         = "Standard_B1ms"
      active_mesh  = true
      single_az_ha = true
      vpc          = "azure_spoke2_vnet"
    },
    spoke2 = {
      name         = "AZ-EU-Spoke2-GW"
      size         = "Standard_B1ms"
      active_mesh  = true
      single_az_ha = true
      vpc          = "azure_spoke2_vnet"
    }
  }
}

Solution

Use ranges to make sure you get the right one. Here's a quick example you can refine -

$: sed '/spoke1/,/\},/ { s/AWS-UE2-Spoke1-GW/myname/; }' file
variable "aws_spoke_gateways" {
  default = {
    spoke1 = {
      name         = "myname"
    },
    spoke2 = {
      name         = "AWS-UE2-Spoke1-GW"
    }
  }
}

If you need more granular control, you can nest the ranges.

$: sed '/variable "aws_spoke_gateways" \{/,/^\},/ {
     /spoke1/,/\},/ { s/AWS-UE2-Spoke1-GW/new1/; }
     /spoke2/,/\},/ { s/AWS-UE2-Spoke1-GW/new2/; }
}' file
variable "aws_spoke_gateways" {
  default = {
    spoke1 = {
      name         = "new1"
    },
    spoke2 = {
      name         = "new2"
    }
  }
}

Note that I added an anchor on the ending brace of the outer wrapper: ^\},

The manual is your friend. Read it all the way through once, you'll save enough hours to make up for it.

• https://www.gnu.org/software/sed/manual/sed.html

Answered By - Paul Hodges

Answer Checked By - Candace Johnson (WPSolving Volunteer)