Advanced AWK Sources

[Gerald I. Evenden]

>Via: uk.ac.bangor.clss1; Wed, 1 Sep 1993 15:32:03 +0100
>From: Mr J D Stocks <bss045 at clss1.bangor.ac.uk>
>Date: Wed, 1 Sep 93 15:31:17 BST
>To: grassp-list at max.cecer.army.mil
>Subject: Re: Advanced AWK Sources
>
>I have recently discovered the PHENOMENAL power of AWK and its uses to
>programmers converting data formats.
>
>I have a reference:
>
>Dale Dougherty, "sed & awk", pub. O'Reilly & Associates, (date not known),
>ISBN 0-937175-59-5
>
>I might add a counter question: 
>
>Does anyone know if there is a good readable book on the advantages and
>methods of using UNIX tools - C, sed, grep, awk etc in GIS?? This area
>currently occupies much of my time.

I presume you mean "methods" rather than "advantages."  One of the
tools you did not mention but one which provides the glue for the above
is the shell program: sh, csh, ksh, ... .  Other than reviewing the
scripts in GRASS and other gis Unix activities, I doubt if there is
any book covering gis applications per se.  But for the most part,
if one understands the basics of how to use them, you are only limited
by your imagination when putting them to gether for your own task.

>                                     Also can anyone advise me on any
>sources - book, internet news boards, etc who can help me understand
>pointers and array uses in C?

Having tried to teach C and frequently advise others in solving C
programming problems I am continually amazed with the difficulty
in comprehending pointers.  The problem is worse when dealing
with those tainted by previous exposure to FORTRAN.

There are innumerable books on the C compiler language.  I think
the best advice is to visit a bookstore well stocked in this area
and plan on spending a couple of hours reviewing the choices, paying
particular attention to the troubling subject areas, trying to
see how well each author seems to communicate with you.  What I
or anyone else may suggest, regardless of how good a reference,
that author may not be able to convey the material in a manner
that is clear to you and your background.  You need a book YOU
feel comfortable with.

>Jeremy Stocks.
>
>University of Wales at Bangor, U.K.

Gerald (Jerry) I. Evenden   Internet: gie at charon.er.usgs.gov
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