Understanding cut


 
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# 1  
Old 01-22-2009
Understanding cut

In our old code, we have the below statements

Code:
LAST_FRIDAY=2009-01-16
echo $LAST_FRIDAY|cut -d '"' -f2

And the output of this is 2009-01-16

The delimiter provided in cut statement is not used in the variable. Also, when we give f1 or f3 or f10 or any other field instead of f2, we still get the output 2009-01-16.

Can someone explain this behaviour please?
# 2  
Old 01-22-2009
As you already said, the delimeter is not used in the variable. Changing the delimeter to "-" might make more sense.
# 3  
Old 01-22-2009
Got clarified now. The intention of the developer was to use

Code:
LAST_FRIDAY="2009-01-16"

and then cut the second field using delimiter '"'

Sorry for the confusion caused. Thanks!
# 4  
Old 01-22-2009
I don't get it - even if he did, when you call the value of the variable with echo, the " are gone anyway using them like in your snippet. So there will be still nothing to cut out.
I mean I don't want to take your happyness away heh Smilie
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