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Name

fmlcut - cut out selected fields of each line of a file

Synopsis

fmlcut -clist [filename ...]
fmlcut -flist [-dchar] [-s] [filename ...]

Availability

SUNWcsu

Description

The fmlcut function cuts out columns from a table or fields from each line in filename; in database parlance, it implements the projection of a relation. fmlcut can be used as a filter; if filename 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: Either the -c or the -f option must be specified.

Options

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 instance, -c1-72 would pass the first 72 characters of each line). Note: 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: 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: 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

The following example gets the login ID s and names.

example% fmlcut -d: -f1,5 /etc/passwd

The next example gets the current login name.

example% gawho am i | fmlcut -f1 -d" "ga

See Also

fmlgrep(1F)

Diagnostics

fmlcut returns the following exit values:

  1. 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.

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