cut(1)                   USER COMMANDS                     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  charac-
              ter 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 charac-
              ter (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.



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cut(1)                   USER COMMANDS                     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
     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,
                 prcessing continues.

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





















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