CUT(C)                                     UNIX System V



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


     Syntax
           cut -c list [ file1 file2 ...]

           cut -f list [-d char] [-s] [file1 file2 ...]


     Description
          Use cut to cut out columns from a table or fields from  each
          line  of  a  file.   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.

          The meanings of the options are:

          list     A comma-separated list of integers  (in  increasing
                   order),   with  an  optional  dash  (-),  indicates
                   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).

          -clist   The  list  following  -c   (no   space)   specifies
                   character  positions  (e.g.,  -c1-72 would keep 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       If the -f option is used, -s suppresses lines  with
                   no  delimiter  characters.  Unless specified, lines
                   with  no  delimiters   will   be   passed   through
                   untouched.

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

     Notes
          Use grep(C) to make horizontal ``cuts'' (by context) through
          a  file, or paste(C) to put files together horizontally.  To
          reorder columns in a table, use cut and paste.


     Examples
          cut -d: -f1,5 /etc/passwd
                                Maps user ID's to names.

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


     See Also
          grep(C), paste(C)


     Diagnostics
          line too long
                      A line can have no more than 511  characters  or
                      fields.

          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.

          no fields   The list is empty.


     Standards Conformance
          cut is conformant with:

          AT&T SVID Issue 2, Select Code 307-127;
          and The X/Open Portability Guide II of January 1987.


     (printed 8/28/89)                                  CUT(C)