cut(1)      UNIX System V(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
     cut -d: -f1,5 /etc/passwd
                            mapping of user IDs to names




10/89                                                                    Page 1

cut(1)      UNIX System V(Directory and File Management Utilities)       cut(1)


     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, processing continues.

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


























Page 2                                                                    10/89