CUT(1-SysV)         RISC/os Reference Manual          CUT(1-SysV)



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 delim-
               iters 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.



                         Printed 1/15/91                   Page 1

CUT(1-SysV)         RISC/os Reference Manual          CUT(1-SysV)



EXAMPLES
     Mapping of user IDs to names:


          cut -d: -f1,5 /etc/passwd

     To set name to current login name:


          name=`who am i | cut -f1 -d" "`

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, processing con-
               tinues.

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


















 Page 2                  Printed 1/15/91