How to convert DOS/Windows newline (CRLF) to Unix newline (LF)

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Matheus Mello
Matheus Mello
published a few days ago. updated a few hours ago

How to Convert DOS/Windows Newline (CRLF) to Unix Newline (LF) like a Pro! 🖥🔀🤓

So, you're facing the common problem of needing to convert DOS/Windows newlines to Unix newlines, but you don't have access to the handy dos2unix or unix2dos commands. No worries! We've got you covered with some easy solutions using sed, awk, and tr commands. Let's dive in and conquer this newline conversion challenge like a pro! 🚀

Problem: Newline Format Frustration 😫

You find yourself needing to programmatically convert DOS/Windows newlines (carriage return + line feed, or CRLF) to Unix newlines (line feed, or LF). But, alas, the helpful dos2unix and unix2dos commands are not available on your system. How can you emulate them using sed, awk, and tr commands?

Solution 1: Sed Saves the Day 🦸‍♀️💪

One way to convert those pesky CRLF newlines to LF newlines is by using the trusty sed command. Here's an example of how to do it:

sed 's/\r$//' inputfile > outputfile

In this command:

  • s tells sed to perform a substitution.

  • \r$ matches the carriage return character at the end of each line.

  • // replaces the matched carriage return with nothing, essentially removing it.

  • inputfile is the name of your input file.

  • outputfile is the name of the file where the converted output will be saved.

Easy, right? Sed saves the day once again! 🎉

Solution 2: Awk to the Rescue 🦾💥

If you prefer using awk, fear not! It can also handle the newline conversion for you. Here's an example:

awk '{ sub(/\r$/,""); print }' inputfile > outputfile

In this awk command:

  • sub(/\r$/,"") substitutes the carriage return character at the end of each line with nothing.

  • print displays the modified line.

  • inputfile is the name of your input file.

  • outputfile is where the converted output will be saved.

Bravo, awk! You're a newline conversion hero! 🙌

Solution 3: Triumph with Tr 🏆✨

Last but not least, we have the venerable tr command in our newline conversion arsenal. Here's how it can be used:

tr -d '\r' < inputfile > outputfile

In this tr command:

  • -d '\r' deletes (removes) the carriage return character.

  • < inputfile specifies the input file.

  • > outputfile saves the converted output to the designated file.

Huzzah! tr saves the day and brings us another victory in the quest for proper newlines! 🎊

Join the Conversation! 💬🤝

We hope these solutions help you on your newline conversion journey. If you have any questions or other neat tricks up your sleeve, we'd love to hear from you! Join the conversation by leaving a comment below. Let's geek out together, tech-savvy friends! 🤓👥

Now go forth and conquer those pesky newline conversions in style! You got this! 💪✨

About the Author ✍️

John Doe is a tech aficionado, coding enthusiast, and all-around nerd. He loves diving deep into tech challenges and finding creative solutions. Follow his blog for more tech tips and tricks that will level up your coding game! 🎮🔥

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