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      Do not 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.

       In  the  input  stream,  col  understands  both the escape sequences of the form escape-digit mandated by
       Version 2 of the Single UNIX Specification (“SUSv2”)  and  the  traditional  BSD  format  escape-control-
       character.  The control sequences for carriage motion and their ASCII values are as follows:

       ESC-BELL         reverse line feed (escape then bell).
       ESC-7            reverse line feed (escape then 7).
       ESC-BACKSPACE    half reverse line feed (escape then backspace).
       ESC-8            half reverse line feed (escape then 8).
       ESC-TAB          half forward line feed (escape than tab).
       ESC-9            half forward line feed (escape then 9).  In -f mode, this sequence may also occur in the
                        output stream.
       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 display a warning message.

ENVIRONMENT

       The LANG, LC_ALL and LC_CTYPE  environment  variables  affect  the  execution  of  col  as  described  in
       environ(7).

EXIT STATUS

       The col utility exits 0 on success, and >0 if an error occurs.

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.

Debian                                            May 10, 2015                                            COL(1)