FSPEC(4) FSPEC(4)
NAME
fspec - format specification in text files
DESCRIPTION
It is sometimes convenient to maintain text files non-
standard tabs, (i.e., tabs which 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 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
which 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
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FSPEC(4) FSPEC(4)
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 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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