fspec(4)                  FILE FORMATS                   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 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 UNIX system commands.  A format specifica-
     tion 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  fol-
     lowed  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  com-
                     mas,  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
                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.




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fspec(4)                  FILE FORMATS                   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  sup-
     plied, 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  exam-
     ple 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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