(gawk.info.gz) Getline/Coprocess
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(gawk.info.gz) Getline/Variable/Pipe
(gawk.info.gz) Getline
(gawk.info.gz) Getline/Variable/Coprocess
3.8.7 Using `getline' from a Coprocess
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Input into `getline' from a pipe is a one-way operation. The command
that is started with `COMMAND | getline' only sends data _to_ your
`awk' program.
On occasion, you might want to send data to another program for
processing and then read the results back. `gawk' allows you to start
a "coprocess", with which two-way communications are possible. This is
done with the `|&' operator. Typically, you write data to the
coprocess first and then read results back, as shown in the following:
print "SOME QUERY" |& "db_server"
"db_server" |& getline
which sends a query to `db_server' and then reads the results.
The values of `NR' and `FNR' are not changed, because the main input
stream is not used. However, the record is split into fields in the
normal manner, thus changing the values of `$0', of the other fields,
and of `NF'.
Coprocesses are an advanced feature. They are discussed here only
because this is the minor node on `getline'. Two-way I/O,
where coprocesses are discussed in more detail.
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(gawk.info.gz) Getline/Variable/Pipe
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(gawk.info.gz) Getline/Variable/Coprocess
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