(coreutils.info)cut invocation

8.1 `cut': Print selected parts of lines
========================================

`cut' writes to standard output selected parts of each line of each
input file, or standard input if no files are given or for a file name
of `-'.  Synopsis:

     cut [OPTION]... [FILE]...

   In the table which follows, the BYTE-LIST, CHARACTER-LIST, and
FIELD-LIST are one or more numbers or ranges (two numbers separated by
a dash) separated by commas.  Bytes, characters, and fields are
numbered starting at 1.  Incomplete ranges may be given: `-M' means
`1-M'; `N-' means `N' through end of line or last field.  The list
elements can be repeated, can overlap, and can be specified in any
order; but the selected input is written in the same order that it is
read, and is written exactly once.

   The program accepts the following options.  Also see Note: Common
options.

`-b BYTE-LIST'
`--bytes=BYTE-LIST'
     Print only the bytes in positions listed in BYTE-LIST.  Tabs and
     backspaces are treated like any other character; they take up 1
     byte.  If an output delimiter is specified, (see the description of
     `--output-delimiter'), then output that string between ranges of
     selected bytes.

`-c CHARACTER-LIST'
`--characters=CHARACTER-LIST'
     Print only characters in positions listed in CHARACTER-LIST.  The
     same as `-b' for now, but internationalization will change that.
     Tabs and backspaces are treated like any other character; they
     take up 1 character.  If an output delimiter is specified, (see
     the description of `--output-delimiter'), then output that string
     between ranges of selected bytes.

`-f FIELD-LIST'
`--fields=FIELD-LIST'
     Print only the fields listed in FIELD-LIST.  Fields are separated
     by a TAB character by default.  Also print any line that contains
     no delimiter character, unless the `--only-delimited' (`-s')
     option is specified

`-d INPUT_DELIM_BYTE'
`--delimiter=INPUT_DELIM_BYTE'
     For `-f', fields are separated in the input by the first character
     in INPUT_DELIM_BYTE (default is TAB).

`-n'
     Do not split multi-byte characters (no-op for now).

`-s'
`--only-delimited'
     For `-f', do not print lines that do not contain the field
     separator character.  Normally, any line without a field separator
     is printed verbatim.

`--output-delimiter=OUTPUT_DELIM_STRING'
     With `-f', output fields are separated by OUTPUT_DELIM_STRING.
     The default with `-f' is to use the input delimiter.  When using
     `-b' or `-c' to select ranges of byte or character offsets (as
     opposed to ranges of fields), output OUTPUT_DELIM_STRING between
     ranges of selected bytes.


   An exit status of zero indicates success, and a nonzero value
indicates failure.