FSPEC(4)FSPEC(4)NAMEfspec - format specification in text files
DESCRIPTION
It is sometimes convenient to maintain text files on the UNIX system with
non-standard tabs, (i.e., tabs which are not set at every eighth column).
Such files must generally be converted to a standard format, frequently
by replacing all tabs with the appropriate number of spaces, before they
can be processed by UNIX system commands. A format specification
occurring in the first line of a text file specifies how tabs are to be
expanded in the remainder of the file.
A format specification consists of a sequence of parameters separated by
blanks and surrounded by the brackets <: and :>. Each parameter consists
of a keyletter, possibly followed immediately by a value. The following
parameters are recognized:
ttabs The t parameter specifies the tab settings for the file. The
value of tabs must be one of the following:
1. a list of column numbers separated by commas, indicating
tabs set at the specified columns;
2. a - followed immediately by an integer n, indicating tabs
at intervals of n columns;
3. a - followed by the name of a ``canned'' tab
specification.
Standard tabs are specified by t-8, or equivalently,
t1,9,17,25,etc. The canned tabs which are recognized are
defined by the tabs(1) command.
ssize The s parameter specifies a maximum line size. The value of
size must be an integer. Size checking is performed after
tabs have been expanded, but before the margin is prepended.
mmargin The m parameter specifies a number of spaces to be prepended
to each line. The value of margin must be an integer.
d The d parameter takes no value. Its presence indicates that
the line containing the format specification is to be deleted
from the converted file.
e The e parameter takes no value. Its presence indicates that
the current format is to prevail only until another format
specification is encountered in the file.
Default values, which are assumed for parameters not supplied, are t-8
and m0. If the s parameter is not specified, no size checking is
performed. If the first line of a file does not contain a format
specification, the above defaults are assumed for the entire file. The
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FSPEC(4)FSPEC(4)
following is an example of a line containing a format specification:
* <:t5,10,15 s72:> *
If a format specification can be disguised as a comment, it is not
necessary to code the d parameter.
SEE ALSOed(1), newform(1), tabs(1)
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