BEGIN{print "---------- This is the beginning.";} FNR == 1 {prevfilenum = filenum; ++filenum;} prevfilenum != filenum {print "---------- New file starting:", filenum;} {print $3; prevfilenum = filenum;} #NR == FNR {print "first:", $3;} #NR != FNR {print "second:", $3;} END{print "---------- This is the end.";}