fspec(4)                         UNIX System V                         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.

      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


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fspec(4)                         UNIX System V                         fspec(4)


      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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