FSPEC(5,F) AIX Technical Reference FSPEC(5,F) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- fspec PURPOSE Specifies formatting within text files. DESCRIPTION A text file format specification normally occurs in the first line of a text file. This format specifies how tabs expand in the remainder of the file. A format specification consists of a sequence of parameters separated by blanks and enclosed by the brackets <: and :>. Each parameter consists of a key-letter, possibly followed immediately by a value. The following parameters are recognized: d The d parameter takes no additional value. It indicates that the line containing the format specification is to be deleted from the converted file. e The e parameter takes no additional value. It indicates that the current format prevails until another format specification is encountered in the file. mmargin The m parameter specifies a number of spaces added to the beginning of each line. The value of margin must be an integer. ssize The s parameter specifies a maximum line size. The value of size must be an integer. Size checking is performed after tabs are expanded, but before inserting the margin. 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 - (dash) followed immediately by an integer n, indicating tabs at intervals of n columns. o A - (dash) followed by the name of a supplied tab specification. Standard tabs are specified by t-8, or the equivalent t1, 9, 17, 25, and so on. The tabs command defines the supplied tabs. 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 contains no format specification, the previous defaults are assumed for the entire file. Processed November 7, 1990 FSPEC(5,F) 1 FSPEC(5,F) AIX Technical Reference FSPEC(5,F) The format specification can be entered as a comment. In that case it is not necessary to code the d parameter. EXAMPLE The following is an example of a line containing a format specification: * <:t5,10,15 s72:> * RELATED INFORMATION The ed, newform, and tabs commands in AIX Operating System Commands Reference. Processed November 7, 1990 FSPEC(5,F) 2