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COL(1)                           User Commands                          COL(1)
NAME
       col - filter reverse line feeds from input
SYNOPSIS
       col [options]
DESCRIPTION
       col  filters out reverse (and half-reverse) line feeds so the output is
       in the correct order, with only forward and  half-forward  line  feeds.
       It  also  replaces  any whitespace characters with tabs where possible.
       This can be useful in processing the output of nroff(1) and tbl(1).
       col reads from standard input and writes to standard output.
OPTIONS
       -b, --no-backspaces
              Do not output any backspaces, printing only the  last  character
              written to each column position.
       -f, --fine
              Permit  half-forward  line  feeds.  Normally characters destined
              for a half-line boundary are printed on the following line.
       -h, --tabs
              Output tabs instead of multiple spaces.
       -l, --lines number
              Buffer at least number lines in memory.  By default,  128  lines
              are buffered.
       -p, --pass
              Force  unknown control sequences to be passed through unchanged.
              Normally col will filter out any control  sequences  other  than
              those  recognized  and  interpreted  by itself, which are listed
              below.
       -x, --spaces
              Output multiple spaces instead of tabs.
       -V, --version
              Display version information and exit.
       -H, --help
              Display help text and exit.
NOTES
       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
              newline           forward line feed  (10);  also  does  carriage
                                return
              carriage return   (13)
              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.
       col  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.
SEE ALSO
       expand(1), nroff(1), tbl(1)
STANDARDS
       The  col  utility conforms to the Single UNIX Specification, Version 2.
       The -l option is an extension to the standard.
HISTORY
       A col command appeared in Version 6 AT&T UNIX.
AVAILABILITY
       The col command is part of the util-linux package and is available from
       Linux   Kernel   Archive  <https://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/utils/util-
       linux/>.
util-linux                         July 2014                            COL(1)