COL(CT)                  XENIX System V                   COL(CT)



     Name
          col - Filters reverse linefeeds.

     Syntax
          col [ -bfxp ]

     Description
          col prepares output from processes, such as the text
          formatter nroff(CT), for output on devices that limit or do
          not allow reverse or half-line motions.  col is typically
          used to process nroff output text that contains tables
          generated by the tbl program. A typical command line might
          be:

               tbl file | nroff | col | lpr

          col takes the following options:

          -b   Assumes the output device in use is not capable of
               backspacing.  If two or more characters appear in the
               same place, col outputs the last character read.

          -f   Allows forward half linefeeds.  If not given, col
               accepts half line motions in its input, but text that
               would appear between lines is moved down to the next
               full line. Reverse full and half linefeeds are never
               allowed with this option.

          -x   Prevents conversion of whitespace to tabs on output.
               col normally converts whitespace to tabs wherever
               possible to shorten printing time.

          -p   Causes col to ignore unknown escape sequences found in
               its input and pass them to the output as regular
               characters.  Because these characters are subject to
               overprinting from reverse line motions, the use of this
               option is discouraged unless the user is fully aware of
               the position of the escape sequences.

          col assumes that the ASCII control characters SO (octal 016)
          and SI (octal 017) start and end text in an alternate
          character set.  If you have a reverse linefeed (ESC 7),
          reverse half linefeed (ESC 8), or forward half linefeed (ESC
          9), within an SI-SO sequence, the ESC 7, 8 and 9 are still
          recognized as line motions.

          On input, the only control characters col accepts are space,
          backspace, tab, return, newline, reverse linefeed (ESC 7),
          reverse half linefeed (ESC 8), forward half linefeed (ESC
          9), alternate character start(SI), alternate character end
          (SO), and vertical tag (VT).  (The VT character is an
          alternate form of full reverse linefeed, included for



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     COL(CT)                  XENIX System V                   COL(CT)



          compatibility with some earlier programs of this type.) All
          other nonprinting characters are ignored.

     See Also
          nroff(CT), tbl(CT)

     Notes
          col cannot back up more than 128 lines.

          col allows at most 800 characters, including backspaces, on
          a line.

          Vertical motions that would back up over the first line of
          the document are ignored.  Therefore, the first line must
          not contain any superscripts.








































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