fspec(4)                       DG/UX 5.4R3.00                       fspec(4)


NAME
       fspec - format specification in text files

DESCRIPTION
       You many want to maintain text files on the DG/UX system with tabs
       that are not set at every eighth column.  You must usually convert
       such files to a standard format, frequently by replacing all tabs
       with the appropriate number of spaces, before they can be processed
       by DG/UX system commands.  A format specification in the first line
       of a text file specifies how tabs are to be expanded in the rest 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 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 is checked 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.  It indicates that the
                  line containing the format specification is to be deleted
                  from the converted file.


         e        The e parameter takes no value.  It indicates that the
                  current format is to prevail only until another format
                  specification is encountered in the file.




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fspec(4)                       DG/UX 5.4R3.00                       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:> *

       For programming language source files, if you can disguise a format
       specification as a comment, you don't need to code the d parameter.

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











































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