Awk variable passing error

Question

Below works fine:

awk '{print $1,$2,$3,$4,$5,$6,$7,$8,$57,$9,$55,$10,$11,$12,$56,$13,$53,$14,$15,$16,$17,$18,$19,$20,$21,$22,$23,$24,$25,$26,$27,$28,$29,$30,$31,$32,$33,$34,$35,$36,$37,$38,$39,$40,$41,$42,$43,$44,$45,$46,$47,$48,$49,$50,$51,$52,$54}' FS='\t' OFS='\t' file.csv > file.csv.updated 

But when I pass the column list through a variable it starts giving syntax errors.

awk -v FinalColumnVal=$FinalColumnValue '{$FinalColumnVal}' FS='\t' OFS='\t' file.csv > file.csv.updated 

For Ref: I confirmed by printing the FinalColumnValue variable and it has the correct data. FinalColumnValue is: print $1,$2,$3,$4,$5,$6,$7,$8,$57,$9,$55,$10,$11,$12,$56,$13,$53,$14,$15,$16,$17,$18,$19,$20,$21,$22,$23,$24,$25,$26,$27,$28,$29,$30,$31,$32,$33,$34,$35,$36,$37,$38,$39,$40,$41,$42,$43,$44,$45,$46,$47,$48,$49,$50,$51,$52,$54

Error:

awk: $1,$2,$3,$4,$5,$6,$7,$8,$57,$9,$55,$10,$11,$12,$56,$13,$53,$14,$15,$16,$17,$18,$19,$20,$21,$22,$23,$24,$25,$26,$27,$28,$29,$30,$31,$32,$33,$34,$35,$36,$37,$38,$39,$40,$41,$42,$43,$44,$45,$46,$47,$48,$49,$50,$51,$52,$54 awk: ^ syntax error awk: $1,$2,$3,$4,$5,$6,$7,$8,$57,$9,$55,$10,$11,$12,$56,$13,$53,$14,$15,$16,$17,$18,$19,$20,$21,$22,$23,$24,$25,$26,$27,$28,$29,$30,$31,$32,$33,$34,$35,$36,$37,$38,$39,$40,$41,$42,$43,$44,$45,$46,$47,$48,$49,$50,$51,$52,$54 awk: ^ syntax error awk: $1,$2,$3,$4,$5,$6,$7,$8,$57,$9,$55,$10,$11,$12,$56,$13,$53,$14,$15,$16,$17,$18,$19,$20,$21,$22,$23,$24,$25,$26,$27,$28,$29,$30,$31,$32,$33,$34,$35,$36,$37,$38,$39,$40,$41,$42,$43,$44,$45,$46,$47,$48,$49,$50,$51,$52,$54 awk: ^ syntax error awk: $1,$2,$3,$4,$5,$6,$7,$8,$57,$9,$55,$10,$11,$12,$56,$13,$53,$14,$15,$16,$17,$18,$19,$20,$21,$22,$23,$24,$25,$26,$27,$28,$29,$30,$31,$32,$33,$34,$35,$36,$37,$38,$39,$40,$41,$42,$43,$44,$45,$46,$47,$48,$49,$50,$51,$52,$54 awk: ^ syntax error awk: $1,$2,$3,$4,$5,$6,$7,$8,$57,$9,$55,$10,$11,$12,$56,$13,$53,$14,$15,$16,$17,$18,$19,$20,$21,$22,$23,$24,$25,$26,$27,$28,$29,$30,$31,$32,$33,$34,$35,$36,$37,$38,$39,$40,$41,$42,$43,$44,$45,$46,$47,$48,$49,$50,$51,$52,$54 awk: ^ syntax error awk: $1,$2,$3,$4,$5,$6,$7,$8,$57,$9,$55,$10,$11,$12,$56,$13,$53,$14,$15,$16,$17,$18,$19,$20,$21,$22,$23,$24,$25,$26,$27,$28,$29,$30,$31,$32,$33,$34,$35,$36,$37,$38,$39,$40,$41,$42,$43,$44,$45,$46,$47,$48,$49,$50,$51,$52,$54 awk: ^ syntax error awk: $1,$2,$3,$4,$5,$6,$7,$8,$57,$9,$55,$10,$11,$12,$56,$13,$53,$14,$15,$16,$17,$18,$19,$20,$21,$22,$23,$24,$25,$26,$27,$28,$29,$30,$31,$32,$33,$34,$35,$36,$37,$38,$39,$40,$41,$42,$43,$44,$45,$46,$47,$48,$49,$50,$51,$52,$54 awk: ^ syntax error awk: $1,$2,$3,$4,$5,$6,$7,$8,$57,$9,$55,$10,$11,$12,$56,$13,$53,$14,$15,$16,$17,$18,$19,$20,$21,$22,$23,$24,$25,$26,$27,$28,$29,$30,$31,$32,$33,$34,$35,$36,$37,$38,$39,$40,$41,$42,$43,$44,$45,$46,$47,$48,$49,$50,$51,$52,$54 awk: ^ syntax error awk: $1,$2,$3,$4,$5,$6,$7,$8,$57,$9,$55,$10,$11,$12,$56,$13,$53,$14,$15,$16,$17,$18,$19,$20,$21,$22,$23,$24,$25,$26,$27,$28,$29,$30,$31,$32,$33,$34,$35,$36,$37,$38,$39,$40,$41,$42,$43,$44,$45,$46,$47,$48,$49,$50,$51,$52,$54 awk: ^ syntax error awk: $1,$2,$3,$4,$5,$6,$7,$8,$57,$9,$55,$10,$11,$12,$56,$13,$53,$14,$15,$16,$17,$18,$19,$20,$21,$22,$23,$24,$25,$26,$27,$28,$29,$30,$31,$32,$33,$34,$35,$36,$37,$38,$39,$40,$41,$42,$43,$44,$45,$46,$47,$48,$49,$50,$51,$52,$54 awk: ^ syntax error awk: $1,$2,$3,$4,$5,$6,$7,$8,$57,$9,$55,$10,$11,$12,$56,$13,$53,$14,$15,$16,$17,$18,$19,$20,$21,$22,$23,$24,$25,$26,$27,$28,$29,$30,$31,$32,$33,$34,$35,$36,$37,$38,$39,$40,$41,$42,$43,$44,$45,$46,$47,$48,$49,$50,$51,$52,$54 awk: ^ syntax error awk: $1,$2,$3,$4,$5,$6,$7,$8,$57,$9,$55,$10,$11,$12,$56,$13,$53,$14,$15,$16,$17,$18,$19,$20,$21,$22,$23,$24,$25,$26,$27,$28,$29,$30,$31,$32,$33,$34,$35,$36,$37,$38,$39,$40,$41,$42,$43,$44,$45,$46,$47,$48,$49,$50,$51,$52,$54 awk: ^ syntax error awk: $1,$2,$3,$4,$5,$6,$7,$8,$57,$9,$55,$10,$11,$12,$56,$13,$53,$14,$15,$16,$17,$18,$19,$20,$21,$22,$23,$24,$25,$26,$27,$28,$29,$30,$31,$32,$33,$34,$35,$36,$37,$38,$39,$40,$41,$42,$43,$44,$45,$46,$47,$48,$49,$50,$51,$52,$54 awk: ^ syntax error awk: $1,$2,$3,$4,$5,$6,$7,$8,$57,$9,$55,$10,$11,$12,$56,$13,$53,$14,$15,$16,$17,$18,$19,$20,$21,$22,$23,$24,$25,$26,$27,$28,$29,$30,$31,$32,$33,$34,$35,$36,$37,$38,$39,$40,$41,$42,$43,$44,$45,$46,$47,$48,$49,$50,$51,$52,$54 awk: ^ syntax error awk: $1,$2,$3,$4,$5,$6,$7,$8,$57,$9,$55,$10,$11,$12,$56,$13,$53,$14,$15,$16,$17,$18,$19,$20,$21,$22,$23,$24,$25,$26,$27,$28,$29,$30,$31,$32,$33,$34,$35,$36,$37,$38,$39,$40,$41,$42,$43,$44,$45,$46,$47,$48,$49,$50,$51,$52,$54 awk: ^ syntax error awk: $1,$2,$3,$4,$5,$6,$7,$8,$57,$9,$55,$10,$11,$12,$56,$13,$53,$14,$15,$16,$17,$18,$19,$20,$21,$22,$23,$24,$25,$26,$27,$28,$29,$30,$31,$32,$33,$34,$35,$36,$37,$38,$39,$40,$41,$42,$43,$44,$45,$46,$47,$48,$49,$50,$51,$52,$54 awk: ^ syntax error awk: $1,$2,$3,$4,$5,$6,$7,$8,$57,$9,$55,$10,$11,$12,$56,$13,$53,$14,$15,$16,$17,$18,$19,$20,$21,$22,$23,$24,$25,$26,$27,$28,$29,$30,$31,$32,$33,$34,$35,$36,$37,$38,$39,$40,$41,$42,$43,$44,$45,$46,$47,$48,$49,$50,$51,$52,$54 awk: ^ syntax error awk: $1,$2,$3,$4,$5,$6,$7,$8,$57,$9,$55,$10,$11,$12,$56,$13,$53,$14,$15,$16,$17,$18,$19,$20,$21,$22,$23,$24,$25,$26,$27,$28,$29,$30,$31,$32,$33,$34,$35,$36,$37,$38,$39,$40,$41,$42,$43,$44,$45,$46,$47,$48,$49,$50,$51,$52,$54 awk: ^ syntax error awk: $1,$2,$3,$4,$5,$6,$7,$8,$57,$9,$55,$10,$11,$12,$56,$13,$53,$14,$15,$16,$17,$18,$19,$20,$21,$22,$23,$24,$25,$26,$27,$28,$29,$30,$31,$32,$33,$34,$35,$36,$37,$38,$39,$40,$41,$42,$43,$44,$45,$46,$47,$48,$49,$50,$51,$52,$54 awk: ^ syntax error awk: $1,$2,$3,$4,$5,$6,$7,$8,$57,$9,$55,$10,$11,$12,$56,$13,$53,$14,$15,$16,$17,$18,$19,$20,$21,$22,$23,$24,$25,$26,$27,$28,$29,$30,$31,$32,$33,$34,$35,$36,$37,$38,$39,$40,$41,$42,$43,$44,$45,$46,$47,$48,$49,$50,$51,$52,$54 awk: ^ syntax error awk: $1,$2,$3,$4,$5,$6,$7,$8,$57,$9,$55,$10,$11,$12,$56,$13,$53,$14,$15,$16,$17,$18,$19,$20,$21,$22,$23,$24,$25,$26,$27,$28,$29,$30,$31,$32,$33,$34,$35,$36,$37,$38,$39,$40,$41,$42,$43,$44,$45,$46,$47,$48,$49,$50,$51,$52,$54 awk: ^ syntax error awk: $1,$2,$3,$4,$5,$6,$7,$8,$57,$9,$55,$10,$11,$12,$56,$13,$53,$14,$15,$16,$17,$18,$19,$20,$21,$22,$23,$24,$25,$26,$27,$28,$29,$30,$31,$32,$33,$34,$35,$36,$37,$38,$39,$40,$41,$42,$43,$44,$45,$46,$47,$48,$49,$50,$51,$52,$54 awk: ^ syntax error awk: $1,$2,$3,$4,$5,$6,$7,$8,$57,$9,$55,$10,$11,$12,$56,$13,$53,$14,$15,$16,$17,$18,$19,$20,$21,$22,$23,$24,$25,$26,$27,$28,$29,$30,$31,$32,$33,$34,$35,$36,$37,$38,$39,$40,$41,$42,$43,$44,$45,$46,$47,$48,$49,$50,$51,$52,$54 awk: ^ syntax error awk: $1,$2,$3,$4,$5,$6,$7,$8,$57,$9,$55,$10,$11,$12,$56,$13,$53,$14,$15,$16,$17,$18,$19,$20,$21,$22,$23,$24,$25,$26,$27,$28,$29,$30,$31,$32,$33,$34,$35,$36,$37,$38,$39,$40,$41,$42,$43,$44,$45,$46,$47,$48,$49,$50,$51,$52,$54 awk: ^ syntax error awk: $1,$2,$3,$4,$5,$6,$7,$8,$57,$9,$55,$10,$11,$12,$56,$13,$53,$14,$15,$16,$17,$18,$19,$20,$21,$22,$23,$24,$25,$26,$27,$28,$29,$30,$31,$32,$33,$34,$35,$36,$37,$38,$39,$40,$41,$42,$43,$44,$45,$46,$47,$48,$49,$50,$51,$52,$54 awk: ^ syntax error awk: $1,$2,$3,$4,$5,$6,$7,$8,$57,$9,$55,$10,$11,$12,$56,$13,$53,$14,$15,$16,$17,$18,$19,$20,$21,$22,$23,$24,$25,$26,$27,$28,$29,$30,$31,$32,$33,$34,$35,$36,$37,$38,$39,$40,$41,$42,$43,$44,$45,$46,$47,$48,$49,$50,$51,$52,$54 awk: ^ syntax error awk: $1,$2,$3,$4,$5,$6,$7,$8,$57,$9,$55,$10,$11,$12,$56,$13,$53,$14,$15,$16,$17,$18,$19,$20,$21,$22,$23,$24,$25,$26,$27,$28,$29,$30,$31,$32,$33,$34,$35,$36,$37,$38,$39,$40,$41,$42,$43,$44,$45,$46,$47,$48,$49,$50,$51,$52,$54 awk: ^ syntax error awk: $1,$2,$3,$4,$5,$6,$7,$8,$57,$9,$55,$10,$11,$12,$56,$13,$53,$14,$15,$16,$17,$18,$19,$20,$21,$22,$23,$24,$25,$26,$27,$28,$29,$30,$31,$32,$33,$34,$35,$36,$37,$38,$39,$40,$41,$42,$43,$44,$45,$46,$47,$48,$49,$50,$51,$52,$54 awk: 

Based on various comments, I got to this working solution.

awk -v cols="$FinalColumnValues" 'BEGIN {n=split(cols,colarr,",") } { for (i=1; i<=n; i++) { printf $colarr[i] "\t" } printf "\n" }' file.csv > file.csv.updated 

Where FinalColumnValues=1,2,3,4,5

Answer 1

May I suggest (untested):

columns='1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,57,9,55,10,11,12,56,13,53,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52,54' awk -v cols="$columns" ' BEGIN { FS = OFS = "\t" n = split(cols, col, /,/) } { printf "%s", $(col[1]) for (i = 2; i <= n; i++) printf "%s%s", OFS, $(col[i]) printf "\n" } ' file.csv > file.csv.updated 

More tersely, the main awk action can be:

{ for (i = 1; i <= n; i++) printf "%s%s", $(col[i]), (i == n) ? ORS : OFS } 

and instead of manually writing out every col number, you could replace this:

columns='1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,57,9,55,10,11,12,56,13,53,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52,54' awk -v cols="$columns" ' BEGIN { n = split(cols, col, /,/) 

with this:

ranges='1-8,57,9,55,10-12,56,13,53,14-52,54' awk -v rngs="$ranges" ' BEGIN { numRanges = split(rngs,ranges,/,/) for ( i=1; i<=numRanges; i++ ) { split(ranges[i],range,/-/) for ( j=range[1]; j<=range[2]; j++ ) { col[++n] = j } }