1COL(1)                           User Commands                          COL(1)
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NAME

6       col - filter reverse line feeds from input
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SYNOPSIS

9       col [options]
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DESCRIPTION

12       col  filters out reverse (and half-reverse) line feeds so the output is
13       in the correct order, with only forward and  half-forward  line  feeds.
14       It  also  replaces  any whitespace characters with tabs where possible.
15       This can be useful in processing the output of nroff(1) and tbl(1).
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17       col reads from standard input and writes to standard output.
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OPTIONS

20       -b, --no-backspaces
21              Do not output any backspaces, printing only the  last  character
22              written to each column position.
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24       -f, --fine
25              Permit  half-forward  line  feeds.  Normally characters destined
26              for a half-line boundary are printed on the following line.
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28       -h, --tabs
29              Output tabs instead of multiple spaces.
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31       -l, --lines number
32              Buffer at least number lines in memory.  By default,  128  lines
33              are buffered.
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35       -p, --pass
36              Force  unknown control sequences to be passed through unchanged.
37              Normally col will filter out any control  sequences  other  than
38              those  recognized  and  interpreted  by itself, which are listed
39              below.
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41       -x, --spaces
42              Output multiple spaces instead of tabs.
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44       -V, --version
45              Display version information and exit.
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47       -H, --help
48              Display help text and exit.
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CONFORMING TO

51       The col utility conforms to the Single UNIX Specification,  Version  2.
52       The -l option is an extension to the standard.
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NOTES

55       The  control  sequences  for  carriage  motion that col understands and
56       their decimal values are listed in the following table:
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58              ESC-7             reverse line feed (escape then 7)
59              ESC-8             half reverse line feed (escape then 8)
60              ESC-9             half forward line feed (escape then 9)
61              backspace         moves back one  column  (8);  ignored  in  the
62                                first column
63              newline           forward  line  feed  (10);  also does carriage
64                                return
65              carriage return   (13)
66              shift in          shift to normal character set (15)
67              shift out         shift to alternate character set (14)
68              space             moves forward one column (32)
69              tab               moves forward to next tab stop (9)
70              vertical tab      reverse line feed (11)
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72       All unrecognized control characters and escape sequences are discarded.
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74       col keeps track of the character set as characters are read  and  makes
75       sure the character set is correct when they are output.
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77       If  the  input  attempts  to back up to the last flushed line, col will
78       display a warning message.
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HISTORY

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

84       expand(1), nroff(1), tbl(1)
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AVAILABILITY

87       The col command is part of the util-linux package and is available from
88       Linux   Kernel   Archive  ⟨https://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/utils/util-
89       linux/⟩.
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93util-linux                         July 2014                            COL(1)