OT: Calling unix experts, Need "vi" assistance Options

[Rusty]

Sorry for the OT post.

I have a text file that I need to edit.

I need to edit every record on that file (record positions 34-37) to change whatever is in those positions (only) to a four digit number. What is currently in those positions varies dramatically.

My only text editor I have on the system is vi.

Anyone got a command I can use?

thanks,
Lawrence

[thomasotten]

Ok, how about writting a shell script that reads every line, then prints out the concatination of the prefix string, with your replacement string, then the remainder string

I just tried it:

test.sh
----------------------------------

s="000104659 W91XLM40940026 GSA00001000011BA042200418504208W91XLM40940026XXXBY"
echo ${s:0:42}"REPL"${s:46}

------------------------------------------
run it by typing "sh test.sh"

"REPL" above is the replacement text

Now you just need to make the script read the file, and do this same operation on every line.