redhat man page for printf

PRINTF(1)								FSF								 PRINTF(1)

NAME
       printf - format and print data

SYNOPSIS
       printf FORMAT [ARGUMENT]...
       printf OPTION

DESCRIPTION
       NOTE:  your shell may have its own version of printf which will supercede the version described here. Please refer to your shell's documen-
       tation for details about the options it supports.

       Print ARGUMENT(s) according to FORMAT.

       --help display this help and exit

       --version
	      output version information and exit

       FORMAT controls the output as in C printf.  Interpreted sequences are:

       "     double quote

       NNN  character with octal value NNN (0 to 3 digits)

       \     backslash

       a     alert (BEL)

            backspace

       c     produce no further output

       f     form feed

       
     new line

       
     carriage return

       	     horizontal tab

       v     vertical tab

       xNNN  byte with hexadecimal value NNN (1 to 3 digits)

       uNNNN character with hexadecimal value NNNN (4 digits)

       UNNNNNNNN
	      character with hexadecimal value NNNNNNNN (8 digits)

       %%     a single %

       %b     ARGUMENT as a string with `' escapes interpreted

       and all C format specifications ending with one of diouxXfeEgGcs, with ARGUMENTs converted to proper type first.  Variable widths are  han-
       dled.

AUTHOR
       Written by David MacKenzie.

REPORTING BUGS
       Report bugs to <bug-coreutils@gnu.org>.

COPYRIGHT
       Copyright (C) 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
       This is free software; see the source for copying conditions.  There is NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICU-
       LAR PURPOSE.

SEE ALSO
       The full documentation for printf is maintained as a Texinfo manual.  If the info and printf programs are properly installed at your  site,
       the command

	      info printf

       should give you access to the complete manual.

GNU coreutils 4.5.3						   February 2003							 PRINTF(1)