tabs(1)tabs(1)NAMEtabs - set tabs on a terminal
SYNOPSIS
[tabspec] n] type]
DESCRIPTION
sets the tab stops on the user's terminal according to the tab specifi‐
cation tabspec, after clearing any previous settings. The user's ter‐
minal must have remotely-settable hardware tabs.
If you are using a non-HP terminal, you should keep in mind that behav‐
ior will vary for some tab settings.
Four types of tab specification are accepted for tabspec: ``canned'',
repetitive, arbitrary, and file. If no is given, the default value is
i.e., UNIX ``standard'' tabs. The lowest column number is 1. Note
that for tabs, column 1 always refers to the left-most column on a ter‐
minal, even one whose column markers begin at 0.
Gives the name of one of a set of ``canned'' tabs.
Recognized codes and their meanings are as follows:
1,10,16,36,72
Assembler, IBM S/370, first format
1,10,16,40,72
Assembler, IBM S/370, second format
1,8,12,16,20,55
COBOL, normal format
1,6,10,14,49
COBOL compact format (columns 1-6 omitted). Using
this code, the first typed character corresponds to
card column 7, one space gets you to column 8, and
a tab reaches column 12. Files using this tab set‐
up should have specify a format specification file
as defined by below. The file should have the fol‐
lowing format specification:
1,6,10,14,18,22,26,30,34,38,42,46,50,54,58,62,67
COBOL compact format (columns 1-6 omitted), with
more tabs than This is the recommended format for
COBOL. The appropriate format specification is:
1,7,11,15,19,23
FORTRAN
1,5,9,13,17,21,25,29,33,37,41,45,49,53,57,61
PL/I
1,10,55
SNOBOL
1,12,20,44
UNIVAC 1100 Assembler
In addition to these ``canned'' formats, three other types exist:
A repetitive specification requests tabs at columns
1+n, 1+2×n, etc. Of particular importance is the value
this represents the UNIX ``standard'' tab setting, and is
the most likely tab setting to be found at a terminal.
Another special case is the value implying no tabs at all.
The arbitrary format permits the user to type any
chosen set of numbers, separated by commas, in ascending
order. Up to 40 numbers are allowed. If any number
(except the first one) is preceded by a plus sign, it is
taken as an increment to be added to the previous value.
Thus, the tab lists 1,10,20,30 and 1,10,+10,+10 are consid‐
ered identical.
If the name of a file is given,
reads the first line of the file, searching for a format
specification. If it finds one there, it sets the tab
stops according to it, otherwise it sets them as This type
of specification can be used to ensure that a tabbed file
is printed with correct tab settings, and is suitable for
use with the command (see pr(1)):
Any of the following can be used also; if a given option occurs more
than once, the last value given takes effect:
usually needs to know the type of terminal in order to set tabs
and always needs to know the type to set margins. type is
a name listed in term(5). If no option is supplied,
searches for the value in the environment (see environ(5)).
If is not defined in the environment, tries a sequence that
will work for many terminals.
The margin argument can be used for some terminals.
It causes all tabs to be moved over n columns by making
column n+1 the left margin. If is given without a value of
n, the value assumed is 10. The normal (left-most) margin
on most terminals is obtained by The margin for most termi‐
nals is reset only when the option is given explicitly.
Tab and margin setting is performed via the standard output.
EXTERNAL INFLUENCES
Environment Variables
determines the interpretation of text within file as single- and/or
multi-byte characters.
determines the language in which messages are displayed.
If or is not specified in the environment or is set to the empty
string, the value of is used as a default for each unspecified or empty
variable. If is not specified or is set to the empty string, a default
of "C" (see lang(5)) is used instead of
If any internationalization variable contains an invalid setting,
behaves as if all internationalization variables are set to "C". See
environ(5).
International Code Set Support
Single- and multi-byte character code sets are supported.
DIAGNOSTICS
Arbitrary tabs are ordered incorrectly.
A zero or missing increment found in an arbitrary specification.
A ``canned'' code cannot be found.
option was used and file cannot be opened.
option was used and the specification in that file
points to yet another file. Indirection of this form is not
permitted.
WARNINGS
There is no consistency among different terminals regarding ways of
clearing tabs and setting the left margin.
It is generally impossible to usefully change the left margin without
also setting tabs.
clears only 20 tabs (on terminals requiring a long sequence), but is
willing to set 64.
SEE ALSOnroff(1), pr(1), tset(1), environ(5), term(5).
STANDARDS CONFORMANCEtabs(1)