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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, and
       replaces  white-space 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
              Forward half line feeds are permitted fine mode.  Normally char-
              acters printed on a half-line boundary are printed on  the  fol-
              lowing line.
       -p, --pass
              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.
       -h, --tabs
              Output tabs instead of multiple spaces.
       -x, --spaces
              Output multiple spaces instead of tabs.
       -l, --lines number
              Buffer at least number lines in memory.  By default,  128  lines
              are buffered.
       -V, --version
              Output version information and exit.
       -H, --help
              Output help 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    <ftp://ftp.kernel.org/pub/linux/utils/util-
       linux/>.

util-linux                      September 2011                          COL(1)