cut(1)                                                     cut(1)



NAME
     cut - cuts out selected fields of each line of a file

SYNOPSIS
     cut -clist [-s] [file]...

     cut -flist [-d char] [-s] [file]...

ARGUMENTS
     -clist
          Specifies character positions (e.g., -c1-72 would pass
          the first 72 characters of each line).  list is a
          comma-separated list of integer field numbers (in
          increasing order), with optional - to indicate ranges
          as in the -o option of nroff/troff for page ranges;
          e.g., 1,4,7; 1-3,8; -5,10 (short for 1-5,10); or 3-
          (short for third through last field).

     -d char
          Specifies the field delimiter.  Used with the -f option
          only.  The default is tab.  Space or other characters
          with special meaning to the shell must be quoted.

     file Specifies the file to be affected.  If no files are
          given, the standard input is used.

     -flist
          Specifies a list of fields assumed to be separated in
          the file by a delimiter character (see -d); e.g., -f1,7
          copies the first and seventh fields only.  Lines with
          no field delimiters will be passed through intact
          (useful for table subheadings), unless the -s option is
          specified.  list is a comma-separated list of integer
          field numbers (in increasing order), with optional - to
          indicate ranges as in the -o option of nroff/troff for
          page ranges; e.g., 1,4,7; 1-3,8; -5,10 (short for
          1-5,10); or 3- (short for third through last field).

     -s   Suppresses lines with no delimiter characters in case
          of -f option.  Unless specified, lines with no
          delimiters will be passed through untouched.

DESCRIPTION
     cut cuts out columns from a table or fields from each line
     of a file; in database parlance, it implements the
     projection of a relation.  The cut command may be used as a
     filter.

     The fields as specified by list in the -c and -f options may
     be fixed length, i.e., character positions as on a punched
     card (-c option) or the length may vary from line to line
     and be marked with a field delimiter character like TAB (-f



January 1992                                                    1

cut(1)                                                     cut(1)



     option).

     Use grep(1) to make horizontal cuts (by context) through a
     file, or paste(1) to put files together column-wise (i.e.,
     horizontally).  To reorder columns in a table, use cut and
     paste.

EXAMPLES
     Use the command for:

        cut -d: -f1,5 /etc/passwd

     mapping user IDs to names.

     Use the command:

        name=`who am i | cut -f1 -d" "`

     to set name to current login name.

STATUS MESSAGES AND VALUES
     Line too long
          A line can have no more than 1023 characters or fields.

     Bad list for c/f option
          Missing the -c or -f option or incorrectly specified
          list.  No error occurs if a line has fewer fields than
          the list calls for.

     No fields
          The list is empty.

FILES
     /usr/bin/cut
          Executable file

SEE ALSO
     awk(1), colrm(1), grep(1), paste(1), sed(1)

















2                                                    January 1992