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 (e.g., -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/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 characters, or lines with no newline character.

SEE ALSO

fmlgrep(1F).