fspec(4) fspec(4)NAME fspec - syntax for format lines for newform DESCRIPTION It is sometimes convenient to maintain text files on the A/UX system with nonstandard 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 A/UX system commands. A format specifica- tion 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 recog- nized: ttabs The t parameter specifies the tab settings for the file. The value of tabs must be one of the follow- ing: 1. a list of column numbers separated by commas, indicating tabs set at the specified columns; 2. a - followed immediately by an integer n, indi- cating 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 equivalent- ly, 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 indi- cates that the line containing the format specifi- cation is to be deleted from the converted file. e The e parameter takes no value. Its presence indi- cates that the current format is to prevail only until another format specification is encountered in the file. April, 1990 1
fspec(4) fspec(4)Default values, which are assumed for parameters not sup- plied, 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 exam- ple 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). 2 April, 1990