A Short list of useful UNIX tools

cat file - outputs a file - good for small amounts of text data
cat >file - inputs a file - good for small amounts of text data

more files - allows you to brouse through any number of files.
             h - help, q - quit, SPacebar - next screen,...

head files - outputs first 10 lines of each file

tail file  - outputs last 10 lines of file

sort file >newfile - sorts data - see the manual for the many options

cut -cn-m file >newfile - cut columns n thru m out of file

grep word files - searches files and prints lines with the word.

sed 'command' file >newfile  - edits every line in a file (complex!)
awk 'program' file >newfile  - interpretive programming language etc.

Use 'man name_of_tool' to read details and 'man - name' to print them.