fspec(4) — Reliant UNIX 5.44c4

fspec(4)                                                           fspec(4)

NAME
     fspec - format specification in text files

DESCRIPTION
     It is sometimes convenient to maintain text files on the Reliant 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 Reliant UNIX system com-
     mands. 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 column;

               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 per-
     formed. If the first line of a file does not contain a format specifi-
     cation, the above defaults are assumed for the entire file. The



Page 1                       Reliant UNIX 5.44                Printed 11/98

fspec(4)                                                           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).













































Page 2                       Reliant UNIX 5.44                Printed 11/98

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