fmlcut(1F) — FMLI UTILITIES
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 positions (for example, −c1−72 would pass the first 72 characters 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 delimiter 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 intervenes between -d and char. The default field delimiter is TAB.
−s Suppresses lines with no delimiter characters. If −s is not specified, lines with no delimiters will be passed through untouched.
EXAMPLES
fmlcut −d: −f1,5 /etc/passwdgets 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 characters, or lines with no newline character.