


      EXPAND(1)                   (bsd 4.1)                   EXPAND(1)



      NAME
           expand, unexpand - expand tabs to spaces, and vice versa

      SYNTAX
           expand [ -tabstop ] [ -tab1,tab2,...tabn ] [ file ... ]

      DESCRIPTION
           Expand converts the tab characters in the named files or
           standard input into blank characters.  Backspace characters
           are preserved in the output, and decrement the column count
           for tab calculations.  Expand is useful in creating
           character files from files with tabs in preparation for
           sorting, column seraching, etc.

           If a single tabstop argument is given, then tabs are set
           tabstop spaces apart instead of the default 8. If multiple
           tabstops are given then the tabs are set at those specific
           columns.

           Unexpand puts tabs back into the data from the standard
           input or the named files and writes the result on the
           standard output. By default only leading blanks and tabs are
           reconverted to maximal strings of tabs. If the -a option is
           given, then tabs are inserted wherever they would compress
           the resultant file by replacing two or more characters.






























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