.\" Copyright (c) 1989, 1990 The Regents of the University of California.
.\" %sccs.include.redist.man%
.\" @(#)cut.1 5.2 (Berkeley) %G%
.Nd select portions of each line of a file
utility selects portions of each line (as specified by
(or the standard input by default), and writes them to the
can be in terms of column position or in terms of fields delimited
is a comma or whitespace separated set of one-based numbers and/or
Number ranges consist of a number, a dash
and select the fields or columns from the first number to the second,
Numbers or number ranges may be preceded by a dash, which selects all
fields or columns from 1 to the first number.
Numbers or number ranges may be followed by a dash, which selects all
fields or columns from the last number to the end of the line.
Numbers and number ranges may be repeated, overlapping, and in any order.
It is not an error to select fields or columns not present in the
The options are as follows:
specifies character positions.
specifies fields, delimited in the input by a single tab character.
Output fields are separated by a single tab character.
as the field delimiter character instead of the tab character.
Suppresses lines with no field delimiter characters.
Unless specified, lines with no delimiters are passed through unmodified.
exit 0 on success, 1 if an error occurred.
function is expected to be POSIX 1003.2 compatible.