cut command tutorial
cut OPTION... [FILE]...
$ cat state.txt
Andhra Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh
Assam
Bihar
Chhattisgarh
-b
extract single character
one character
$ cut -b 1,2,3 state.txt
And
Aru
Ass
Bih
Chh
consecutive string
$ cut -b 1-3,5-7 state.txt
Andra
Aruach
Assm
Bihr
Chhtti
-c
cut by column
cut by one column
$ cut -c 2,5,7 state.txt
nr
rah
sm
ir
hti
by consecutive column
$ cut -c 1-7 state.txt
Andhra
Arunach
Assam
Bihar
Chhatti
-d
cut by delimiter
$ cut -d " " -f 1 state.txt
Andhra
Arunachal
Assam
Bihar
Chhattisgarh
$ cut -d " " -f 1,2 state.txt --output-delimiter='%'
Andhra%Pradesh
Arunachal%Pradesh
Assam
Bihar
Chhattisgarh