cut(1)           (Directory and File Management Utilities)           cut(1)


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

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

   DESCRIPTION
         Use cut to cut out columns from a table or fields from each line of a
         file; in data base parlance, it implements the projection of a
         relation.  The fields as specified by list can be fixed length, i.e.,
         character positions as on a punched card (-c option) or the length
         can vary from line to line and be marked with a field delimiter
         character like tab (-f option).  cut can be used as a filter; if no
         files are given, the standard input is used.  In addition, a file
         name of ``-'' explicitly refers to standard input.

         The meanings of the options are:

         list     A comma-separated list of integer field numbers (in
                  increasing order), with optional - to indicate ranges [e.g.,
                  1,4,7; 1-3,8; -5,10 (short for 1-5,10); or 3- (short for
                  third through last field)].

         -clist   The list following -c (no space) specifies character
                  positions (e.g., -c1-72 would pass the first 72 characters
                  of each line).

         -flist   The list following -f is 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 field only.  Lines
                  with no field delimiters will be passed through intact
                  (useful for table subheadings), unless -s is specified.

         -dchar   The character following -d is the field delimiter (-f option
                  only).  Default is tab.  Space or other characters with
                  special meaning to the shell must be quoted.

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

         Either the -c or -f option must be specified.

         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




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   cut(1)           (Directory and File Management Utilities)           cut(1)


        cut -d: -f1,5 /etc/passwd
                               mapping of user IDs to names

        name=`who am i | cut -f1 -d" "`
                               to set name to current login name.

   DIAGNOSTICS
        I "ERROR:  line too long"
                     A line can have no more than 1023 characters or fields,
                     or there is no new-line character.

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

        "ERROR:  no fields"
                     The list is empty.

        "ERROR:  no delimeter"
                     Missing char on -d option.

        "ERROR:  cannot handle multiple adjacent backspaces"
                     Adjacent backspaces cannot be processed correctly.

        "WARNING:  cannot open <filename>"
                     Either filename cannot be read or does not exist.  If
                     multiple filenames are present, prcessing continues.

   SEE ALSO
         grep(1), paste(1).






















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