Divide a file into several parts (columns)
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 `-‘.
Syntax cut [OPTION]... [FILE]...
In the options below, BYTE-LIST, CHARACTER-LIST, and FIELD-LIST are one or more numbers or ranges (two numbers separated by a dash)
Bytes, characters, and fields are are numbered starting at 1 and separated by commas.
Incomplete ranges can be given: -M means 1-M ; N- means N through end of line or last field.
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. -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. -f FIELD-LIST --fields=FIELD-LIST Print only the fields listed in FIELD-LIST. Fields are separated by a TAB character by default. -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. --output-delimiter=OUTPUT_DELIM_STRING For `-f', output fields are separated by OUTPUT_DELIM_STRING The default is to use the input delimiter.
Example
Parse out column 2 from a semicolon (;) delimited file:
$ cat myfile.txt | cut -d \; -f 2 > output.txt
Related linux commands:
csplit – Split a file into context-determined pieces
fmt – Reformat paragraph text
fold – Wrap input lines to fit in specified width
head – Output the first part of file(s)
join – Join lines on a common field
paste – Merge lines of files
split – Split a file into fixed-size pieces
tail – Output the last part of files
Equivalent Windows command: FOR /F – Conditionally perform a command on items in a text file
Equivalents in Windows Batch/Perl Script – CUT Scripts