fspec(4)                                                           fspec(4)




 NAME    [Toc]    [Back]
      fspec - format specification in text files

 DESCRIPTION    [Toc]    [Back]
      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
      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:

           ttabs          The t 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 t-8, or
                          equivalently, t1, 9, 17, 25, etc.  Recognized
                          canned tabs are defined by the tabs command (see
                          tabs(1)).

           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 inserted at the
                          beginning of the line.

           mmargin        The m parameter specifies a number of spaces to be
                          inserted at the beginning of 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.



 Hewlett-Packard Company            - 1 -   HP-UX 11i Version 2: August 2003






 fspec(4)                                                           fspec(4)




           e              The e 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 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.

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

 SEE ALSO    [Toc]    [Back]
      ed(1), newform(1), tabs(1).


 Hewlett-Packard Company            - 2 -   HP-UX 11i Version 2: August 2003