FSPEC(4)                                                 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 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 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
                     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
                     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.



     Page 1                                        (last mod. 8/20/87)

     FSPEC(4)                                                 FSPEC(4)



            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.

     ORIGIN
          AT&T V.3

































     Page 2                                        (last mod. 8/20/87)