FSPEC(4)                             SysV                             FSPEC(4)



NAME
     fspec - format specification in text files

DESCRIPTION
     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.  This
     makes it convenient to maintain text files with tab settings different
     than those required by some SysV commands (usually, every eighth column).

     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:

               ⊕  A list of column numbers separated by commas, indicating
                  tabs set at the specified columns

               ⊕  A hypen (-) followed immediately by an integer n, indicating
                  tabs at intervals of n columns

               ⊕  A hyphen (-) 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
     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 ALSO
     ed(1), newform(1), tabs(1) in the SysV Command Reference.