fspec(4) fspec(4)
NAME
fspec - format specification in text files
DESCRIPTION
It is sometimes convenient to maintain text files with non-
standard tabs (that is, 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 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, and so on. 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.
Copyright 1994 Novell, Inc. Page 1
fspec(4) fspec(4)
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.
REFERENCES
ed(1), newform(1), tabs(1)
Copyright 1994 Novell, Inc. Page 2