fspec(4)						     Kernel Interfaces Manual							  fspec(4)

NAME

       fspec - format specification in text files

DESCRIPTION

       It  is  sometimes  convenient  to  maintain  text files on the HP-UX system with non-standard tabs, (meaning tabs that are not set at every
       eighth column).	Generally, such files must be converted to a standard format - frequently by replacing all tabs with the appropriate  num-
       ber  of	spaces - before they can be processed by HP-UX 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:

	      The	     parameter specifies 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  or  equivalently,  etc.   Recognized  canned tabs are defined by the command (see
			     tabs(1)).

	      The	     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 inserted at the beginning of the line.

	      The	     parameter	specifies a number of spaces to be inserted at the beginning of each line.  The value of margin must be an
			     integer.

	      The	     parameter takes no value.	Its presence indicates that the line containing the format specification is to be  deleted
			     from the converted file.

	      The	     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 (assumed for parameters not supplied) are and If the 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:

       If a format specification can be disguised as a comment, it is not necessary to code the parameter.

       Several HP-UX system commands correctly interpret the format specification for a file.  Among them is which can be used to convert files to
       a standard format acceptable to other HP-UX system commands.

SEE ALSO

       ed(1), newform(1), tabs(1).

																	  fspec(4)