fspec(4)                                                 fspec(4)



     NAME
          fspec - format specification in text files

     DESCRIPTION
          It is sometimes convenient to maintain text files on the
          Oreo 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 Oreo 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 prefixed.

          mmargin  The m parameter specifies a number of spaces to be
                   prefixed 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



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     fspec(4)                                                 fspec(4)



                   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.

          Several Oreo System commands correctly interpret the format
          specification for a file.  Among them is gath which may be
          used to convert files to a standard format acceptable to
          other Oreo commands.

     SEE ALSO
          ed(1), newform(1), tabs(1).


































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