CUT(CT) XENIX System V CUT(CT)
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 integer field numbers (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 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 The -s option suppresses lines with no delimiter
characters in case of -f options. Unless
specified, lines with no delimiters will be passed
through untouched.
Either the -c or -f option must be specified.
Hints
Use grep(C) to make horizontal ``cuts'' (by context) through
a file, or paste(CT) to put files together horizontally. To
reorder columns in a table, use cut and paste.
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CUT(CT) XENIX System V CUT(CT)
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(CT)
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.
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