expand(1) - NetBSD Manual Pages

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EXPAND(1)                   NetBSD Reference Manual                  EXPAND(1)


NAME

     expand, unexpand - expand tabs to spaces, and vice versa


SYNOPSIS

     expand [-tabstop] [-tab1,tab2,...,tabn] file ...
     unexpand [-a] file ...


DESCRIPTION

     expand processes the named files or the standard input writing the stan-
     dard output with tabs changed into blanks.  Backspace characters are pre-
     served into the output and decrement the column count for tab calcula-
     tions.  expand is useful for pre-processing character files (before sort-
     ing, looking at specific columns, etc.) that contain tabs.

     If a single tabstop argument is given, then tabs are set tabstop spaces
     apart instead of the default 8.  If multiple tabstops are given then the
     tabs are set at those specific columns.

     unexpand puts tabs back into the data from the standard input or the
     named files and writes the result on the standard output.

     Option (with unexpand only):

     -a    By default, only leading blanks and tabs are reconverted to maximal
           strings of tabs.  If the -a option is given, then tabs are inserted
           whenever they would compress the resultant file by replacing two or
           more characters.


HISTORY

     The expand command appeared in 3.0BSD.

4th Berkeley Distribution        June 9, 1993                                1