[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: binary search in a file
From: |
Colin S. Miller |
Subject: |
Re: binary search in a file |
Date: |
Thu, 14 Jul 2005 11:46:44 +0100 |
User-agent: |
Debian Thunderbird 1.0.2 (X11/20050331) |
Sorav Bansal wrote:
Is there a utility to search for a value in a sorted file using binary
search. The file was sorted using the 'sort' command.
thanks!
Sorav
Is there any reason why you want to use a binary search, except for speed?
Unless the lines are fixed-length, after each chop, the search program
will have to find the start-of-line character.
This is likely to negate any advantage gained from binary searches.
I'd sugest just sticking to grep. You can use the '-l' (ell) option -
this will exit when the first matching line is found, (but not display
it).
Colin S. Miller