- AWK ------------------------- How to Use AWK -------------------------- Awk is an powerful command language that allows the user to manipulate files containing columns of data and strings. Awk is extremely useful, both for general operation of Unix commands, and for data reduction (e.g. IRAF). You might also learn how to use the stream editor sed. Many applications of awk resemble those done on ...sparky.rice.edu/~hartigan/awk.html