FSPEC(4-SVR4)       RISC/os Reference Manual        FSPEC(4-SVR4)



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 specifi-
     cation 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 set-
                         tings 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 con-
                         taining the format specification is to
                         be deleted from the converted file.



                        Printed 11/19/92                   Page 1

FSPEC(4-SVR4)       RISC/os Reference Manual        FSPEC(4-SVR4)



     e                   The e parameter takes no value.  Its
                         presence indicates that the current for-
                         mat 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) in the User's Reference Manual.



































 Page 2                 Printed 11/19/92