fmlcut(1F) MISC. REFERENCE MANUAL PAGES fmlcut(1F)
NAME
fmlcut - cut out selected fields of each line of a file
SYNOPSIS
fmlcut -clist [file ...]
fmlcut -flist [-dchar] [-s] [file ...]
DESCRIPTION
The fmlcut function cuts out columns from a table or fields
from each line in file; in database parlance, it implements
the projection of a relation. fmlcut can be used as a
filter; if file is not specified or is -, the standard input
is read. list specifies the fields to be selected. Fields
can be fixed length (character positions) or variable length
(separated by a field delimiter character), depending on
whether -c or -f is specified.
Note that either the -c or the -f option must be specified.
The meanings of the options are:
list A comma-separated list of integer field numbers (in
increasing order), with optional - to indicate
ranges For example: 1,4,7; 1-3,8; -5,10 (short for
1-5,10); or 3- (short for third through last
field).
-clist If -c is specified, list specifies character posi-
tions (e.g., -c1-72 would pass the first 72 charac-
ters of each line). Note that no space intervenes
between -c and list.
-flist If -f is specified, list is a list of fields
assumed to be separated in the file by the default
delimiter character, TAB, or by char if the -d
option is specified. For example, -f1,7 copies the
first and seventh field only. Lines with no delim-
iter characters are passed through intact (useful
for table subheadings), unless -s is specified.
Note that no space intervenes between -f and list.
The following options can be used if you have
specified -f.
-dchar
If -d is specified, char is the field delimiter.
Space or other characters with special meaning to
FMLI must be quoted. Note that no space inter-
venes between -d and char. The default field del-
imiter is TAB.
-s Suppresses lines with no delimiter characters. If
-s is not specified, lines with no delimiters will
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fmlcut(1F) MISC. REFERENCE MANUAL PAGES fmlcut(1F)
be passed through untouched.
EXAMPLES
fmlcut -d: -f1,5 /etc/passwd gets login IDs and names
`who am i | fmlcut -f1 -d" "` gets the current login name
DIAGNOSTICS
fmlcut returns the following exit values:
0 when the selected field is successfully cut out
2 on syntax errors
The following error messages may be displayed on the FMLI
message line:
ERROR: line too long
A line has 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 delimiter
Missing char on -d option.
NOTES
fmlcut cannot correctly process lines longer than 1023 char-
acters, or lines with no newline character.
SEE ALSO
fmlgrep(1F).
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