[SOLVED] Partial duplication of a line with sed

Issue

How can I use sed to duplicate part of a string?

hello foo(ignore this);
hello bar(or that);
hello func(or anything really);

with

hello foo(x) foo(y)
hello bar(x) bar(y)
hello func(x) func(y) 

I know I can use & multiple times in the replace statement of sed but I have trouble having the matching pattern & be only what's between hello and (

Solution

I think you're on the right track with &:

sed 's/(.*/(/; s/[^ ]*(/&x) &y)/' test.txt

• Clear out everything after open paren: s/(.*/(/
• Then capture function name and open paren as & and repeat with x) and y): s/[^ ]*(/&x) &y)/
• [^ ]* is capturing the string of non-space chars before the open paren

Answered By - stevesliva

Answer Checked By - Clifford M. (WPSolving Volunteer)