NAME field - manipulate fields of data SYNOPSIS field [-t[c] | fieldlist] outputformat [file ...] DESCRIPTION Field is used to manipulate data kept in formatted fields. It selects data from certain fields of the input files and copies it to certain places in the standard output. The 'fieldlist' parameter is used to describe the interesting columns on the input file. Fields are specified by naming the columns in which they occur (e.g. 5-10) or the columns in which they start and an indication of their length (e.g. 3+2, meaning a field which starts in column 3 and spans 2 columns). When specifying more than one field, separate the specs with commas (e.g. 5-10,16,72+8) Fields may overlap, and need not be in ascending numerical order (e.g. 1-25,10,3 is OK). If input fields do not fall in certain columns, but rather are separated by some character (such as a blank or a comma), describe the fields by using the '-tc' flag, replacing 'c' with the appropriate separator (a tab character is the default). Once fields have been described with either the '-tc' flag or a fieldlist, they can be arranged on output by the 'outputformat' argument. This argument is actually a picture of what the output line should look like. Fields from input are referred to as $1, $2, $3, etc., referring to the first, second, third, etc. fields that were specified. (Up to 9 fields are allowed, plus the argument $0 which refers to the whole line.) These $n symbols are placed in the output format wherever that field should appear, surrounded by whatever characters desired. For example, an outputformat of: "$2 somewords $1" would produce an output line such as: field2 somewords field1 If no input files are specified, or if the filename '-' is found, field will read from the standard input. DIAGNOSTICS illegal field specification The fieldlist specification was in error, probably because it contained letters or some other illegal characters SEE ALSO sedit AUTHORS David Hanson and friends (U. of Arizona)