fspec(4)fspec(4)NAMEfspec - 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 number of spa‐
ces − 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 spec‐
ified columns;
2. A followed immediately by an integer n,
indicating tabs at intervals of n col‐
umns;
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 nec‐
essary to code the parameter.
Several HP-UX system commands correctly interpret the format specifica‐
tion 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 ALSOed(1), newform(1), tabs(1).
fspec(4)
