cut (extract columns) in Linux CLI - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the code to extract the first column from a file named data.txt using cut.

Linux CLI

cut -d',' -f[1] data.txt

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A1

Ball

C2

D0

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using 0 as the field number, which is invalid.

Forgetting to specify the delimiter with -d.

The -f option specifies which field (column) to extract. Fields start at 1, so to get the first column, use 1.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the code to extract columns 2 and 4 separated by a comma from data.csv.

Linux CLI

cut -d',' -f[1] data.csv

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A2,4

B1,3

C4,2

D2-4

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using a range like 2-4 which extracts columns 2, 3, and 4 instead of just 2 and 4.

Swapping the order of columns unintentionally.

Use -f2,4 to extract the 2nd and 4th columns. The order matters and must match the columns you want.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the code to extract the third column from file.txt where columns are separated by tabs.

Linux CLI

cut -d[1] -f3 file.txt

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A,

B$'\t'

Ctab

Dspace

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using a comma instead of tab as delimiter.

Writing 'tab' as a string instead of the escape sequence.

To specify a tab delimiter, use $'\t' with -d. A comma or the word 'tab' won't work.

4fill in blank

hard

Complete the code to extract columns 1 and 3 from records.txt where fields are separated by a colon.

Linux CLI

cut -d: -f[1] records.txt

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A:

B1,3

C2,4

D,

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using comma as delimiter instead of colon.

Selecting wrong fields like 2,4 instead of 1,3.

Use -d ':' to set colon as delimiter and -f1,3 to get columns 1 and 3.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to extract columns 2 and 5 from data.tsv where fields are tab-separated.

Linux CLI

cut -d[1] -f[2] data.tsv > [3]

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A$'\t'

B2,5

Coutput.txt

D,

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using comma as delimiter instead of tab.

Forgetting to redirect output to a file.

Selecting wrong columns.

Use -d $'\t' for tab delimiter, -f2,5 for columns 2 and 5, and redirect output to output.txt.