


      FSPEC(4)                    (UNIX 5.0)                   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.



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      FSPEC(4)                    (UNIX 5.0)                   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.

           Several UNIX System commands correctly interpret the format
           specification for a file.  Among them is gath (see send(1C))
           which may be used to convert files to a standard format
           acceptable to other UNIX System commands.

      SEE ALSO
           ed(1), newform(1), send(1C), tabs(1).































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