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318

answers:

2
+3  Q: 

print second last column/field in AWK

I want to print the second last column or field in awk. the number of fields is variable. I know that I should be able to use $NF but not sure how it can be used.

And this does not seem to work

awk ' { print ( $NF-- ) } '

+8  A:  
awk ' { print ( $(NF-1) ) }'
Chris Kannon  2010-01-19 19:44:53
+1  A:  
awk ' { print $(NF-1) }' file
ghostdog74  2010-01-19 23:48:40

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