@(#)split.1 6.2 (Berkeley) 11/20/86

.AT 3 split - split a file into pieces split [ -n ] [ -b byte_cnt ] [ file [ name ] ] Split reads file and writes it in n -line pieces or in byte_cnt byte pieces to a set of output files. The default is in 1000 line pieces. The name of the first output file is name with "aa" appended, and so on, lexicographically, to "zz". If no output name is given, "x" is the default, in which case split will create files from "xaa" to "zzz".

If no input file is given, or if - is given in its stead, then the standard input file is used.

If you provide name, split can only create 676 separate files. The default naming convention allows 2028 separate files.