fspec(4) File Formats fspec(4)
NAME
fspec - format specification in text files
DESCRIPTION
It is sometimes convenient to maintain text files on the system with non-standard tabs, (tabs that 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 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:
o A list of column numbers separated by commas, indicating tabs set at the specified columns.
o A '-' followed immediately by an integer n, indicating tabs at intervals of n columns.
o 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 that 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.
e The e parameter takes no value. Its presence indicates that the current format is to prevail only until another format specifi-
cation 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.
SEE ALSO
ed(1), newform(1), tabs(1)
SunOS 5.11 3 Jul 1990 fspec(4)
