recdel removes records from a rec file, or from rec data
read from standard input. Synopsis:
recdel [OPTIONS]... [-t type] \
[-n indexes | -e record_expr | -q str | -m num] \
[file]
If no file is specified then the command acts like a filter, getting the data from standard input and writing the result to standard output.
In addition to the common options described earlier (see Common Options) the program accepts the following options.
Remove records of the given type. If this parameter is not specified then records of any type will be removed.
Match 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.
A record selection expression (see Selection Expressions). Only the records matched by the expression will be removed from the file.
Remove records having a field whose value contains the substring str.
Remove num random records. If num is zero then remove all the records.
Comment the matching records out instead of removing them.
Delete even in potentially dangerous situations, such as a request to delete all the records of some type.
Don’t use external record descriptors.
Make strings case-insensitive in selection expressions.
Be verbose when reporting integrity problems.