CSPLIT(1) | General Commands Manual | CSPLIT(1)

# NAME

`csplit` — split files based on context

# SYNOPSIS

`csplit` | [`-ks`] [`-f` prefix] [`-n` number] file arg ...

# DESCRIPTION

The `csplit` utility splits file into pieces using the pattern arg. If file is a dash (‘-’), `csplit` reads from standard input.

Files are created with a prefix of “xx” and two decimal digits. The size of each file is written to standard output as it is created. If an error occurs whilst files are being created, or a `HUP`, `INT`, or `TERM` signal is received, all files previously written are removed.

The options are as follows:

`-f` prefix
  Create file names beginning with prefix, instead of “xx”.
`-k`
  Do not remove previously created files if an error occurs or a `HUP`, `INT`, or `TERM` signal is received.
`-n` number
  Create file names beginning with number of decimal digits after the prefix, instead of 2.
`-s`
  Do not write the size of each output file to standard output as it is created.

The arg operand may be a combination of the following patterns:

/regexp/[[`+`|`-`]offset]
  Create a file containing the input from the current line to (but not including) the next line matching the given basic regular expression. An optional offset from the line that matched may be specified.
%regexp%[[`+`|`-`]offset]
  Same as above but a file is not created for the output.
line_no
  Create containing the input from the current line to (but not including) the specified line number.
{num}
  Repeat the previous pattern the specified number of times. If it follows a line number pattern, a new file will be created for each line_no lines, num times. The first line of the file is line number 1 for historic reasons.

After all the patterns have been processed, the remaining input data (if there is any) will be written to a new file.

Requesting to split at a line before the current line number or past the end of the file will result in an error.

# EXIT STATUS

The `csplit` utility exits 0 on success, and >0 if an error occurs.

# EXAMPLES

Split the mdoc(7) file foo.1 into one file for each section (up to 21 files):

`$ csplit -k foo.1 '%^\.Sh%' '/^\.Sh/' '{20}'`

Split standard input after the first 99 lines and every 100 lines thereafter (up to 21 files):

`$ csplit -k - 100 '{19}'`

# SEE ALSO

sed(1), split(1), re_format(7)

# STANDARDS

The `csplit` utility is compliant with the IEEE Std 1003.1-2008 (“POSIX.1”) specification.

# HISTORY

A `csplit` command appeared in PWB UNIX.

# BUGS

Input lines are limited to `LINE_MAX` (2048) bytes in length.

December 22, 2022 | Debian