EXPAND(1)                   NetBSD Reference Manual                  EXPAND(1)

NNAAMMEE
     eexxppaanndd, uunneexxppaanndd - expand tabs to spaces, and vice versa

SSYYNNOOPPSSIISS
     eexxppaanndd [--_t_a_b_s_t_o_p] [--_t_a_b_1_,_t_a_b_2_,_._._._,_t_a_b_n] _f_i_l_e _._._.
     uunneexxppaanndd [--aa] _f_i_l_e _._._.

DDEESSCCRRIIPPTTIIOONN
     EExxppaanndd processes the named files or the standard input writing the stan-
     dard output with tabs changed into blanks.  Backspace characters are pre-
     served into the output and decrement the column count for tab calcula-
     tions.  EExxppaanndd is useful for pre-processing character files (before sort-
     ing, looking at specific columns, etc.) that contain tabs.

     If a single _t_a_b_s_t_o_p argument is given, then tabs are set _t_a_b_s_t_o_p spaces
     apart instead of the default 8.  If multiple tabstops are given then the
     tabs are set at those specific columns.

     UUnneexxppaanndd puts tabs back into the data from the standard input or the
     named files and writes the result on the standard output.

     Option (with uunneexxppaanndd only):

     --aa    By default, only leading blanks and tabs are reconverted to maximal
           strings of tabs.  If the --aa option is given, then tabs are inserted
           whenever they would compress the resultant file by replacing two or
           more characters.

HHIISSTTOORRYY
     The eexxppaanndd command appeared in 3.0BSD.

4th Berkeley Distribution     September 15, 1996                             1
