fspec(4)                                                           fspec(4)


   NAME
         fspec - 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 that 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 that 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.




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   fspec(4)                                                           fspec(4)


         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 User's Reference Manual







































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