awk: can I decrement `length($x)`

[alphaniner]

Is there anyway to modify the value of `length($x)` in the following:


awk '{print substr($9,1,length($9))}'

Specifically, I want to decrease it by one. I know there's a myriad of other ways I could do what I want to do, I'm just hoping I can avoid doing them.

[saulgoode]

Why not just subtract one from value returned?


awk '{print substr($9, 1, length($9) - 1)}'

[lisati]

Why not just subtract one from value returned?


awk '{print substr($9, 1, length($9) - 1)}'

Beat me to it!

Saving the result(s) a function/procedure returns and working on the saved copy is sometimes easier than trying to modify the function/procedure yourself.

[alphaniner]

Why not just subtract one from value returned?


awk '{print substr($9, 1, length($9) - 1)}'

<grumble> I swear I tried that and it didn't work. Thank you.