split

split a file into pieces

split [options] [input [prefix]]

Output fixed-size pieces of input to PREFIXaa, PREFIXab, …
NO stdout
With no input, or when input is -, read standard input. default prefix is x.

-a
--suffix-length=n
default 2
default
-l
--lines=number
lines per output file. default 1,000
-b
--bytes=size
bytes per output file size may have a multiplier suffix: b for 512, k for 1K, m for 1 Meg.
-C
--line-bytes=size
at most bytes of lines per output file
--verbose ¬  display a diagnostic to standard error just before each output file is opened
--help
--version output version information and exit

split <--verbose mystuff
creating file `xaa'
creating file `xab'
creating file `xac'
creating file `xad'
creating file `xae'
creating file `xaf'
creating file `xag'

 
split  --verbose --suffix-length=3 -lines=10  mystuff  2>&1  | more
creating file `xaaa'
creating file `xaab'
creating file `xaac'
creating file `xaad'
creating file `xaae'
creating file `xaaf'
creating file `xaag'
…
creating file `xaxs'
creating file `xaxt'
creating file `xaxu'
 
split (coreutils) 4.5.3 April 2006