fmlcut(1F) 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
positions (for example, -c1-72 would pass the
first 72 characters 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
delimiter 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
Copyright 1994 Novell, Inc. Page 1
fmlcut(1F) fmlcut(1F)
special meaning to FMLI must be quoted. Note
that no space intervenes between -d and char.
The default field delimiter is TAB.
-s Suppresses lines with no delimiter
characters. If -s is not specified, lines
with no delimiters will 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.
NOTICES
fmlcut cannot correctly process lines longer than 1023
characters, or lines with no newline character.
REFERENCES
fmlgrep(1F)
Copyright 1994 Novell, Inc. Page 2