


      CUT(1)                      (UNIX 5.0)                     CUT(1)



      NAME
           cut - cut out selected fields of each line of a file

      SYNTAX
           cut -clist [file1 file2 ...]
           cut -flist [-dchar] [-s] [file1 file2 ...]

      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.

           The meanings of the options are:

           list     A comma-separated list of integer field numbers (in
                    increasing order), with optional - to indicate
                    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       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.

      HINTS
           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



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      CUT(1)                      (UNIX 5.0)                     CUT(1)



           paste.

      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
           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.

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
































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