> hostname
graphics3.bl831.als.lbl.gov

> set hostname = ` hostname `
> echo $hostname
graphics3.bl831.als.lbl.gov

> set hostname = ` hostname | awk 'BEGIN {FS="."} {print $1}'`
> echo $hostname
graphics3


> echo ABCD  | awk 'BEGIN {FS=""} {print $2}'
B

#
# Output Field Separator "OFS"  only works if individual fields are Specified in Output:
#

> echo ABCD | awk 'BEGIN{FS=""}{OFS=":"}{print $1,$2,$3,$4,$0}'
A:B:C:D:ABCD

> echo A B C D | awk 'BEGIN {OFS=":"}{print $1,$2,$3,$4,$0}'
A:B:C:D:A B C D


> echo A B C D | awk 'BEGIN {OFS="\n"}{print $1,$2,$3,$4,$0}'
A
B
C
D
A B C D