Awk syntax error pattern matching - awk

Question

I want to match every empty line, and when it is an empty line, i want to go to the next line.
The problem is when i type
/^$/ { next }
it always gives me a syntaxt error. It always refers to the first '{'. I thought this was the correct syntax. Can anyone help me please?
My script:
BEGIN{
FS=" "
matching=0
num=0
}
{
/^$/ { next }
if(matching==1 && num>=NF){
print("")
matching=0
}
if(match($NF,type)>0){
for(i=1;i<=NF;i++){
printf($i)
}
printf("\n")
num=NF
matching=1
next
}
if(matching==1){
for(i=1;i<=NF-num;i++){
printf(" ")
}
printf($NF)
printf("\n")
}
}
END{
}
This is my script

Answer 1

You are trying to use the pattern {action} syntax from within an {action} block there.
You need to move your /^$/ {next} line outside of the action block you are starting on line 6 (by moving it above that opening { to get what you want. Or use the if style matching in the action block.
Your script:
BEGIN{
FS=" "
matching=0
num=0
}
{ # <---- This starts an action block.
/^$/ { next } # <----- This is a pattern/action pair.
if(matching==1 && num>=NF){
print("")
matching=0
}
if(match($NF,type)>0){
for(i=1;i<=NF;i++){
printf($i)
}
printf("\n")
num=NF
matching=1
next
}
if(matching==1){
for(i=1;i<=NF-num;i++){
printf(" ")
}
printf($NF)
printf("\n")
}
}
END {
}

Answer 2

Your script has several issues, commented below:
BEGIN{
FS=" "
matching=0 # No need to init variables to zero, this is default behavior.
num=0 # Ditto.
}
{
/^$/ { next } # You can't just use "condition { action }" when you're already
# inside an awk action block. Move this outside of the action
# block or change it to "if (/^$/) { next }"
if(matching==1 && num>=NF){
print("") # print is a builtin not a function. Just do print "".
matching=0
}
if(match($NF,type)>0){
for(i=1;i<=NF;i++){
printf($i) # printf is a builtin, not a function and NEVER put input data
# where the printf formatting string should be. Change this to
# printf "%s", $i
}
printf("\n") # print ""
num=NF
matching=1
next
}
if(matching==1){
for(i=1;i<=NF-num;i++){
printf(" ") # printf " "
}
printf($NF) # printf "%s", $NF
printf("\n") # print ""
}
}
END{ # unused and unnecessary, remove this section.
}
I suspect if you posted some sample input and expected output we could help you write a better (more concise and more idomatic) script.