TABS(1) DOMAIN/IX SYS5 TABS(1)
NAME
tabs - set tabs on a terminal
USAGE
tabs [ tabspec ] [ +mn ] [ -Ttype ]
DESCRIPTION
Tabs clears any previous tab settings on your terminal, and
sets new tab stops according to tabspec. The terminal must
have hardware tabs that can be remotely set. Tab and margin
setting is performed via the standard output.
Four types of tab specifications are accepted for tabspec:
``canned,'' repetitive, arbitrary, and file.
If no tabspec is given, the default value is -8 , i.e., UNIX
system ``standard'' tabs. The lowest column number is 1.
Note that for tabs, column 1 always refers to the leftmost
column on a terminal, even one whose column markers begin at
0 (e.g., the DASI 300, DASI 300s, and DASI 450).
TABSPECS
-code Give the name of one of a set of ``canned'' tabs.
The legal codes and their meanings are as follows:
-a 1,10,16,36,72
Assembler, IBM S/370, first format
-a2 1,10,16,40,72
Assembler, IBM S/370, second format
-c 1,8,12,16,20,55
COBOL, normal format
-c2 1,6,10,14,49
COBOL compact format (columns 1 through 6
omitted). Using this code, the first typed
character corresponds to card column 7, one
space gets you to column 8, and a tab reaches
column 12. Files using this tab setup should
include a format specification as follows:
<:t-c2 m6 s66 d:>
-c3 1,6,10,14,18,22,26,30,34,38,42,46,50,54,58,62,67
COBOL compact format (columns 1 through 6
omitted), with more tabs than -c2. This is
the recommended format for COBOL. The
appropriate format specification is:
Printed 12/4/86 TABS-1
TABS(1) DOMAIN/IX SYS5 TABS(1)
<:t-c3 m6 s66 d:>
-d 1,5,9,13,17,21,25,29,33,37,41,45,49,53,57,61,65,69,73,77
DOMAIN - Apollo Display Manager format
-f 1,7,11,15,19,23
FORTRAN
-p 1,5,9,13,17,21,25,29,33,37,41,45,49,53,57,61
PL/I
-s 1,10,55
SNOBOL
-u 1,12,20,44
UNIVAC 1100 Assembler
In addition to these ``canned'' formats, three other types
exist:
-n A repetitive specification requests tabs at columns
1+n, 1+2*n, etc. This type of setting leaves a left
margin of n columns on GE TermiNet terminals only.
Of particular importance is the value -8, which
represents the UNIX system ``standard'' tab setting,
and is the most likely tab setting to be found at a
terminal. It is required for use with the nroff(1)
-h option for high-speed output. Another special
case is the value -0, implying no tabs at all.
n1,n2,...
The arbitrary format lets you type any chosen set of
numbers, separated by commas, in ascending order.
Up to 40 numbers are allowed. If any number except
the first one is preceded by a plus sign, it is
taken as an increment to be added to the previous
value. Thus, the tab lists 1, 10, 20, 30 and 1, 10,
+10, +10 are considered identical.
- - file
If the name of a file is given, tabs reads the first
line of the file, searching for a format specifica-
tion. If it finds one there, it sets the tab stops
accordingly; otherwise, it sets them as -8. This
type of specification may be used to ensure that a
tabbed file is printed with correct tab settings.
For example, use it with the pr(1) command in this
manner:
TABS-2 Printed 12/4/86
TABS(1) DOMAIN/IX SYS5 TABS(1)
tabs - - file; pr file
OTHER OPTIONS
The following options may also be used. If a given flag
occurs more than once, the last value given takes effect.
-Ttype Tabs usually needs to know the type of terminal in
order to set tabs and always needs to know the type
to set margins. Type is a name listed under
term(5). If no -T flag is supplied, tabs searches
for the $TERM value in the environment. Refer to
environ(5) for more information on this. If no type
is found, tabs tries a sequence that works for many
terminals.
+mn The margin argument may be used for some terminals.
It causes all tabs to be moved over n columns by
making column n+1 the left margin. If +m is given
without a value of n, the value assumed is 10. For
a GE TermiNet, the first value in the tab list
should be 1, or the margin will move even further to
the right. The normal (leftmost) margin on most
terminals is obtained by +m0. The margin for most
terminals is reset only when the +m flag is given
explicitly.
CAUTIONS
For some tab settings, GE TermiNet terminals behave dif-
ferently than most other terminals. The first number in a
list of tab settings becomes the left margin on a TermiNet
terminal. Thus, any list of tab numbers whose first element
is other than 1 causes a margin to be left on a TermiNet,
but not on other terminals. A tab list beginning with 1
causes the same effect regardless of terminal type.
Methods to clear tabs and set the left margin are not con-
sistent among various terminals. Usually, you cannot use-
fully change the left margin without also setting tabs.
Tabs clears only 20 tabs (on terminals requiring a long
sequence), but is willing to set 64.
DIAGNOSTICS
``illegal tabs'' Arbitrary tabs incorrectly ordered.
``illegal increment''
Arbitrary specification contains a zero
or missing increment.
``unknown tab code''
``Canned'' code cannot be found.
``can't open'' A - - file option is used, and the file
Printed 12/4/86 TABS-3
TABS(1) DOMAIN/IX SYS5 TABS(1)
cannot be opened.
``file indirection''
A - - file option is used, and the
specification in that file points to yet
another file. Indirection of this form
is not permitted.
RELATED INFORMATION
pr(1), environ(5), term(5).
TABS-4 Printed 12/4/86