fmlcut(1F)        MISC. REFERENCE MANUAL PAGES         fmlcut(1F)



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

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

DESCRIPTION
     The fmlcut function cuts out columns from a table or  fields
     from  each line in file; in database parlance, it implements
     the projection of a relation.   fmlcut  can  be  used  as  a
     filter; if file is not specified or is -, the standard input
     is read.  list specifies the fields to be selected.   Fields
     can be fixed length (character positions) or variable length
     (separated by a field  delimiter  character),  depending  on
     whether -c or -f is specified.

     Note that either the -c or the -f option must be specified.

     The meanings of the options are:

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

     -clist   If -c is specified, list specifies character  posi-
              tions (e.g., -c1-72 would pass the first 72 charac-
              ters of each line).  Note that no space  intervenes
              between -c and list.

     -flist   If -f is specified,   list  is  a  list  of  fields
              assumed  to be separated in the file by the default
              delimiter character, TAB, or  by  char  if  the  -d
              option is specified.  For example, -f1,7 copies the
              first and seventh field only.  Lines with no delim-
              iter  characters  are passed through intact (useful
              for table subheadings),  unless  -s  is  specified.
              Note  that no space intervenes between -f and list.
              The following options  can  be  used  if  you  have
              specified -f.

          -dchar
               If -d is specified, char is the  field  delimiter.
               Space  or other characters with special meaning to
               FMLI must be quoted.  Note that  no  space  inter-
               venes between -d and char.  The default field del-
               imiter is TAB.

          -s   Suppresses lines with no delimiter characters.  If
               -s is not specified, lines with no delimiters will



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fmlcut(1F)        MISC. REFERENCE MANUAL PAGES         fmlcut(1F)



               be passed through untouched.

EXAMPLES
     fmlcut -d: -f1,5 /etc/passwd  gets login IDs and names

     `who am i | fmlcut -f1 -d" "` gets the current login name

DIAGNOSTICS
     fmlcut returns the following exit values:

     0   when the selected field is successfully cut out
     2   on syntax errors


     The following error messages may be displayed  on  the  FMLI
     message line:

     ERROR:  line too long
               A line has 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 delimiter
               Missing char on -d option.

NOTES
     fmlcut cannot correctly process lines longer than 1023 char-
     acters, or lines with no newline character.

SEE ALSO
     fmlgrep(1F).

















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