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General Introduction
********************

   This file documents `awk', a program that you can use to select
particular records in a file and perform operations upon them.

   This is Edition 0.15 of `The GAWK Manual',
for the 2.15 version of the GNU implementation
of AWK.

* Menu:

* Preface                      What you can do with `awk'; brief history
                                and acknowledgements.
* Copying                      Your right to copy and distribute `gawk'.
* This Manual                  Using this manual.
                                Includes sample input files that you can use.
* Getting Started              A basic introduction to using `awk'.
                                How to run an `awk' program.
                                Command line syntax.
* Reading Files                How to read files and manipulate fields.
* Printing                     How to print using `awk'.  Describes the
                                `print' and `printf' statements.
                                Also describes redirection of output.
* One-liners                   Short, sample `awk' programs.
* Patterns                     The various types of patterns
                                explained in detail.
* Actions                      The various types of actions are
                                introduced here.  Describes
                                expressions and the various operators in
                                detail.  Also describes comparison expressions.
* Expressions                  Expressions are the basic building
                                blocks of statements.
* Statements                   The various control statements are
                                described in detail.
* Arrays                       The description and use of arrays.
                                Also includes array-oriented control
                                statements.
* Built-in                     The built-in functions are summarized here.
* User-defined                 User-defined functions are described in detail.
* Built-in Variables           Built-in Variables
* Command Line                 How to run `gawk'.
* Language History             The evolution of the `awk' language.
* Installation                 Installing `gawk' under
                                various operating systems.
* Gawk Summary                 `gawk' Options and Language Summary.
* Sample Program               A sample `awk' program with a
                                complete explanation.
* Bugs                         Reporting Problems and Bugs.
* Notes                        Something about the
                                implementation of `gawk'.
* Glossary                     An explanation of some unfamiliar terms.
* Index