head

Output the first part of files, prints the first part (10 lines by default) of each FILE; it reads from standard input if no files are given or when given a FILE of `-'.

SYNTAX
      head [options]... [file]...

      head -NUMBER [options]... [file]...

If more than one FILE is specified, `head' prints a one-line header consisting of
     ==> FILE NAME <==
before the output for each FILE.

`head' accepts two option formats: 
the new one, in which numbers are arguments to the options (`-q -n 1'), and 
the old one, in which the number precedes any option letters (`-1q').

OPTIONS

`-COUNTOPTIONS'
     This option is only recognized if it is specified first.  COUNT is
     a decimal number optionally followed by a size letter (`b', `k',
     `m') as in `-c', or `l' to mean count by lines, or other option
     letters (`cqv').

`-c BYTES'
`--bytes=BYTES'
     Print the first BYTES bytes, instead of initial lines.  Appending
     `b' multiplies BYTES by 512, `k' by 1024, and `m' by 1048576.

`-n N'
`--lines=N'
     Output the first N lines.

`-q'
`--quiet'
`--silent'
     Never print file name headers.

`-v'
`--verbose'
     Always print file name headers.

"If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you..." - Rudyard Kipling

Related Linux Bash commands:

csplit - Split a file into context-determined pieces
cut - Divide a file into several parts
fmt - Reformat paragraph text
paste - Merge lines of files
split - Split a file into fixed-size pieces
tail - Output the last part of files

Equivalent Windows XP commands:

FOR /F "skip=nlines" - Loop through items in a text file
FC Input_File Empty_File /lbn - Compare n lines of a file