fspec(4)                         DG/UX R4.11                        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.

       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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