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17.5 recset

recset manipulates the fields of records in a rec file, or rec data read from the standard input. Synopsis:

     recset [option]... [file]...

If no file is specified then the command acts like a filter, getting the data from the standard input and writing the result in the standard output.

In addition to the common options described earlier (see Common Options) the program accepts the following options.

Record selection options:

-i
--case-insensitive
Make strings case-insensitive in selection expressions.
-t
--type=expr
Operate on the records of the given type. If this parameter is not specified then records of any type will be affected.
-n indexes
--number=indexes
Operate on the records occupying the given positions in its record set. indexes must be a comma-separated list of numbers or ranges, the ranges being two numbers separated with dashes. For example, the following list denotes the first, the third, the fourth and all records up to the tenth: -n 0,2,4-9.
-e expr
--expression=expr
A record selection expression (see Selection Expressions). Only the records matched by the expression will be processed.
-q str
--quick=str
Operate on records having a field whose value contains the substring str.
-m num
--random=num
Operate on num random records. If num is zero then operate on all the records.

Fields selection options:

-f
--fields=FEX
Field selection expression (see Field Expressions) to select the fields to operate.

Actions:

-s
--set=value
Set the value of the selected fields to value.
-a
--add=value
Add a new field to the selected record with value value.
-S
--set-add=value
Set the value of the selected fields to value. If some of the fields don't exist in a record, append it with the specified value.
-r
--rename=value
Rename a field. value shall be a valid field name. The field expression associated with this action shall contain a single field name and an optional subscript. If an entire record set is selected then the field is renamed in the record descriptor as well.
-d
--delete
Delete the selected fields in the selected records.
-c
--comment
Comment out the selected fields in the selected records.
--no-external
Don't use external record descriptors.
--verbose
Be verbose when reporting integrity problems.
--force
Perform the requested operation even in potentially dangerous situations, or when the integrity of the data stored in the file is affected.