Re: cut with d-option dose not work add on

[Bob Proulx]

Ralf Steinmann wrote:
> the d-option does not work with the cut command.
> I used it in various forms like:
> 
> cut 040101.csv -d  ;
> cut 040101.csv -d  ";"
> cut 040101.csv -d  ';'

None of those are of the correct syntax.  You did not give cut
anything to do.  The program should have printed the following error
message (in my locale) in this case.  This error seems descriptive
enough for me for an error message.

  cut: you must specify a list of bytes, characters, or fields
  Try `cut --help' for more information.

What did it say in your locale?  Perhaps there is a translation issue?

> the file 040101.csv contains the following lists separated with semicolons ;
> 
> Zeitraum:;"1 Woche";von:;"29.12.2003";bis:;"30.12.2003";
> Betrag in EUR;;von:;" ";bis:;" ";
> Sortiert nach:;"Buchungsdatum";"absteigend";
> 
> I did not find any syntax, which works.  My aim is to change the
> delimiter to the semicolon in oder to get a List of all arguments.

What is it that you are trying to do?  What do you mean by "a List of
all arguments"?  That does not mean anything to me.

> if the syntax is false please send me an example that
> works. otherwise i guess that this option does not work correct.

Works fine to me.  Using your example file let's assume you would like
to cut the first and second field out of the file.  The delimiter is
printed between fields.

  cut -d";" -f1-2 040101.csv
  Zeitraum:;"1 Woche"
  Betrag in EUR;
  Sortiert nach:;"Buchungsdatum"

Or just print the second field.

  cut -d";" -f2 040101.csv
  "1 Woche"
  
  "Buchungsdatum"

The 'awk' command is also useful in these cases.

Bob