CUT(1)                                                     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.



     Page 1                                        (last mod. 8/20/87)

     CUT(1)                                                     CUT(1)



     EXAMPLES
          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
          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).

     ORIGIN
          AT&T V.3


















     Page 2                                        (last mod. 8/20/87)