regex - Awk BEGIN example -

$ cat tables.txt | awk 'begin { rs="\nstation" fs="\n" } { print $1 } '

running above command in above format or script gives me desired output.

08594: sal                     , cape verde

but if try running same in cli single gives me error syntax. doing wrong here?

$ awk 'begin { rs="\nstation" fs="\n" }{ print $1 }' tables.txt

you can use:

awk 'begin { rs="\nstation"; fs="\n" }{ print $1 }' tables.txt

i.e. use ; terminate 1 assignment before starting i.e. fs="\n".

harsh