1columns(1) User Commands columns(1)
2
6 columns - Columnize Input Text
7
9 columns [-flag [value]]... [--opt-name[[=| ]value]]...
10 All arguments must be options.
12
14 There is no description for this command.
15
17 Specify the output dimensions
18 -W num, --width=num
19 Maximum Line Width. This option takes an integer number as its
20 argument. The value of num is constrained to being:
21 in the range 16 through 4095
22 The default num for this option is:
23 79
24 This option specifies the full width of the output line, includ‐
26 ing any start-of-line indentation. The output will fill each
27 line as completely as possible, unless the column width has been
28 explicitly specified. If the maximum width is less than the
29 length of the widest input, you will get a single column of out‐
30 put.
31 -c count, --columns=count
33 Desired number of columns. This option takes an integer number
34 as its argument. The value of count is constrained to being:
35 in the range 1 through 2048
36 The default count for this option is:
37 0
38 Use this option to specify exactly how many columns to produce.
40 If that many columns will not fit within line_width, then the
41 count will be reduced to the number that fit.
42 -w num, --col-width=num
44 Set width of each column. This option takes an integer number
45 as its argument. The value of num is constrained to being:
46 in the range 1 through 2048
47 The default num for this option is:
48 0
49 Use this option to specify exactly how many characters are to be
51 allocated for each column. If it is narrower than the widest
52 entry, it will be over-ridden with the required width.
53 --tab-width=num
55 tab width. This option takes an integer number as its argument.
56 The default num for this option is:
57 8
58 If an indentation string contains tabs, then this value is used
60 to compute the ending column of the prefix string.
61 Specify how to lay out the text
63 --spread=num
64 maximum spread added to column width. This option takes an
65 integer number as its argument. The value of num is constrained
66 to being:
67 in the range 1 through 1024
68 The default num for this option is:
69 0
70 Use this option to specify exactly how many characters may be
72 added to each column. It allows you to prevent columns from
73 becoming too far apart. Without this option, columns will
74 attempt to widen columns to fill the full width.
75 --fill Fill lines with input. This option must not appear in combina‐
77 tion with any of the following options: spread, col_width,
78 by_columns.
79 Instead of columnizing the input text, fill the output lines
81 with the input lines. Blank lines on input will cause a blank
82 line in the output, unless the output is sorted. With sorted
83 output, blank lines are ignored.
84 -I l-pfx, --indent=l-pfx
86 Line prefix or indentation.
87 If a number, then this many spaces will be inserted at the start
89 of every line. Otherwise, it is a line prefix that will be
90 inserted at the start of every line.
91 --first-indent=l-pfx
93 First line prefix. This option must appear in combination with
94 the following options: indent.
95 If a number, then this many spaces will be inserted at the start
97 of the first line. Otherwise, it is a line prefix that will be
98 inserted at the start of that line. If its length exceeds
99 "indent", then it will be emitted on a line by itself, suffixed
100 by any line separation string. For example:
101 $ columns --first='#define TABLE' -c 2 -I4 --line=' ´ <<_EOF_
103 one
104 two
105 three
106 four
107 _EOF_
108 #define TABLE one two three four
109 -f fmt-str, --format=fmt-str
111 Formatting string for each input.
112 If you need to reformat each input text, the argument to this
114 option is interpreted as an sprintf(3) format that is used to
115 produce each output entry.
116 -S sep-str, --separation=sep-str
118 Separation string - follows all but last.
119 Use this option if, for example, you wish a comma to appear
121 after each entry except the last.
122 --line-separation=sep-str
124 string at end of all lines but last.
125 Use this option if, for example, you wish a backslash to appear
127 at the end of every line, except the last.
128 --ending=end-str
130 string at end of last line.
131 This option puts the specified string at the end of the output.
133 Specify the ordering of the entries
135 --by-columns
136 Print entries in column order.
137 Normally, the entries are printed out in order by rows and then
139 columns. This option will cause the entries to be ordered
140 within columns. The final column, instead of the final row, may
141 be shorter than the others.
142 -s key-pat, --sort[=key-pat]
144 Sort input text.
145 Causes the input text to be sorted. If an argument is supplied,
147 it is presumed to be a pattern and the sort is based upon the
148 matched text. If the pattern starts with or consists of an
149 asterisk (*), then the sort is case insensitive.
150 Redirecting stdin to an alternate file
152 -i file, --input=file
153 Input file (if not stdin).
154 This program normally runs as a filter, reading from standard
156 input, columnizing and writing to standard out. This option
157 redirects input to a file.
158 -?, --help
160 Display usage information and exit.
161 -!, --more-help
163 Pass the extended usage information through a pager.
164 -> [cfgfile], --save-opts[=cfgfile]
166 Save the option state to cfgfile. The default is the last con‐
167 figuration file listed in the OPTION PRESETS section, below.
168 The command will exit after updating the config file.
169 -< cfgfile, --load-opts=cfgfile, --no-load-opts
171 Load options from cfgfile. The no-load-opts form will disable
172 the loading of earlier config/rc/ini files. --no-load-opts is
173 handled early, out of order.
174 -v [{v|c|n}], --version[={v|c|n}]
176 Output version of program and exit. The default mode is `v', a
177 simple version. The `c' mode will print copyright information
178 and `n' will print the full copyright notice.
179
181 Any option that is not marked as not presettable may be preset by load‐
182 ing values from configuration ("RC" or ".INI") file(s) and values from
183 environment variables named:
184 COLUMNS_<option-name> or COLUMNS
185 The environmental presets take precedence (are processed later than)
186 the configuration files. The homerc files are ".", and "$HOME". If
187 any of these are directories, then the file .columnsrc is searched for
188 within those directories.
189
191 See OPTION PRESETS for configuration environment variables.
192
194 See OPTION PRESETS for configuration files.
195
197 One of the following exit values will be returned:
198 0 (EXIT_SUCCESS)
200 Successful program execution.
201 1 (EXIT_FAILURE)
203 The operation failed or the command syntax was not valid.
204 66 (EX_NOINPUT)
206 A specified configuration file could not be loaded.
207 70 (EX_SOFTWARE)
209 libopts had an internal operational error. Please report it to
210 autogen-users@lists.sourceforge.net. Thank you.
211
213 This program is documented more fully in the Columns section of the
214 Add-On chapter in the AutoGen Info system documentation.
215
217 Bruce Korb
218
220 Copyright (C) 1999-2012 Bruce Korb all rights reserved. This program
221 is released under the terms of the GNU General Public License, version
222 3 or later.
223
225 Please send bug reports to: autogen-users@lists.sourceforge.net
226
228 This manual page was AutoGen-erated from the columns option defini‐
229 tions.
230GNU AutoGen (1.2) 10 Jun 2014 columns(1)