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col(1)

NAME

     col -- filter reverse line feeds from input

SYNOPSIS

     col [-bfhpx] [-l num]

DESCRIPTION

     The col utility 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 characters with tabs where possible.
     This can be useful in processing the output of nroff(1) and tbl(1).

     The col utility 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 last character
	     written to each column position.

     -f      Forward half line feeds are permitted (``fine'' mode).  Normally
	     characters printed on a half line boundary are printed on the
	     following line.

     -h      Don't output multiple spaces instead of tabs (default).

     -l num  Buffer at least num lines in memory.  By default, 128 lines are
	     buffered.

     -p      Force unknown control sequences to be passed through unchanged.
	     Normally, col will filter out any control sequences from the
	     input other than those recognized and interpreted by itself,
	     which are listed below.

     -x      Output multiple spaces instead of tabs.

     The control sequences for carriage motion that col understands and their
     decimal values are listed in the following table:

     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 the first column
     carriage return  (13)
     newline	      forward line feed (10); also does carriage return
     shift 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 are discarded.

     The col utility keeps track of the character set as characters are read
     and makes sure the character set is correct when they are output.

     If the input attempts to back up to the last flushed line, col will dis-

SEE ALSO

     colcrt(1), expand(1), nroff(1), tbl(1)

STANDARDS

     The col utility conforms to Version 2 of the Single UNIX Specification
     (``SUSv2'').

HISTORY

     A col command appeared in Version 6 AT&T UNIX.

FreeBSD 5.4			August 4, 2004			   FreeBSD 5.4

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