split

Split a file into fixed-size pieces, creates output files containing consecutive sections of INPUT (standard input if none is given or INPUT is `-')

SYNTAX
      split [OPTION] [INPUT [PREFIX]]

OPTIONS

`-LINES'
`-l LINES'
`--lines=LINES'
     Put LINES lines of INPUT into each output file.

`-b BYTES'
`--bytes=BYTES'
     Put the first BYTES bytes of INPUT into each output file.
     Appending `b' multiplies BYTES by 512, `k' by 1024, and `m' by
     1048576.

`-C BYTES'
`--line-bytes=BYTES'
     Put into each output file as many complete lines of INPUT as
     possible without exceeding BYTES bytes.  For lines longer than
     BYTES bytes, put BYTES bytes into each output file until less than
     BYTES bytes of the line are left, then continue normally.  BYTES
     has the same format as for the `--bytes' option.

`--verbose'
     Write a diagnostic to standard error just before each output file
     is opened.

By default, `split' puts 1000 lines of INPUT (or whatever is left over for the last section), into each output file.

The output files' names consist of PREFIX (`x' by default) followed by a group of letters `aa', `ab', and so on, such that concatenating the output files in sorted order by file name produces the original input file.

(If more than 676 output files are required, `split' uses `zaa', `zab', etc.)

"The man who is tired of London is tired of looking for a parking space" - Paul Theroux

Related commands:

csplit - Split a file into context-determined pieces
cut - Divide a file into several parts
fmt - Reformat paragraph text
fold - Wrap input lines to fit in specified width
head - Output the first part of file(s)
join - Join lines on a common field
paste - Merge lines of files