NAME

col - filter reverse line feeds from input SYNOPSIS

col [-bfhpx? [-l num? DESCRIPTION

Col filters out reverse (and half reverse) line feeds so that the output is in the correct order with only forward and half forward line feeds, and replaces white-space char- acters with tabs where possible. This can be useful in pro- cessing the output of nroff(1) and tbl(1).

Col reads from the standard input and writes to the standard output.

The options are as follows

• b Do not output any backspaces, printing only the lastcharacter written to each column position.

• fForward half line feeds are permitted (``fine''mode). Normally characters printed on a half lineboundary are printed on the following line.-hDon't output multiple spaces instead of tabs(default).-pForce unknown control sequences to be passed throughunchanged. Normally, col will filter out any controlsequences from the input other than those recognizedand interpreted by itself, which are listed below.-xOutput multiple spaces instead of tabs.-l numBuffer at least num lines in memory. By default, 128lines are buffered.The control sequences for carriage motion that col under-stands and their decimal values are listed in the followingtable:ESC-7 reverse line feed (escape then 7)ESC-8 half reverse line feed (escape then 8)ESC-9 half forward line feed (escape then 9)backspace moves back one column (8); ignored in thefirst columncarriage return (13)newline forward line feed (10); also does carriagereturnshift in shift to normal character set (15)shift out shift to alternate character set (14)space moves forward one column (32)tab moves forward to next tab stop (9)vertical tab reverse line feed (11)All unrecognized control characters and escape sequences arediscarded.Col keeps track of the character set as characters are readand makes sure the character set is correct when they areoutput.If the input attempts to back up to the last flushed line,col will display a warning message.SEE ALSO

expand(1), nroff(1), tbl(1) HISTORY

A col command appeared in Version 6 AT

.

BSD June 29, 1993 1