col (1) --- convert input to multi-column output 07/31/80 _U_s_a_g_e col { -c | -g | -i | -l | -w | -t } _D_e_s_c_r_i_p_t_i_o_n 'Col' is a filter that reads lines from standard input and writes multi-column pages on standard output. The arguments control what assumptions are made about such things as the size of the input lines, the length of the output page, the number of columns per page, and so on; any combination of the following may be used: -c may be used to control the number of columns per page; it must be followed by a positive integer. The current implementation of 'col' restricts the maximum number of columns per page to 8. If "-c" is omitted, two columns per page is assumed. -g may be used to set the width of the "gutters" that separate the columns from each other; it must be fol- lowed by a non-negative integer. If "-g" is omitted, five blanks are placed between columns. -i may be used to set a running indentation of the left margin and must also be followed by a non-negative integer. If no "-i" is given an indentation value of zero is assumed. -l may be used to specify the number of lines on each page of output and must be followed by a positive integer. If it is omitted, 'col' assumes a page length of 54 lines, which incidentally is the number lines placed on each page by the 'print' command. -w may be used to set the width of each column and should also be followed by a positive integer. To allow lines containing backspaces and overstruck characters whose length exceed their printed width, 'col' never truncates input lines; consequently, best results occur when all the input lines have a printed width no greater than the specified value. If "-w" is omitted, three inch wide columns are produced (i.e., 30 charac- ters per column, printed at 10 characters per inch). -t may be used to select parameter values suitable for generating output on a CRT screen. Specifically, this option selects five columns of 14 characters each per 22 line page with two character gutters and no indentation. The output generated under these parameters is suitable to be piped into the 'pg' com- mand. If additional options are used, the parameter values so specified override those selected by "-t". col (1) - 1 - col (1) col (1) --- convert input to multi-column output 07/31/80 _E_x_a_m_p_l_e_s file> col | print files .r$ | col -t | pg paper> col -c 2 -w 60 -l 66 >/dev/lps _M_e_s_s_a_g_e_s "Usage: col ..." for improper arguments. "too many columns" if more that 8 columns are requested. "too many lines" if there is inadequate buffer space to hold an entire page. _B_u_g_s The default parameter values are probably wrong. Misbehaves when input lines contain more backspaces than printable characters. _S_e_e _A_l_s_o pg (1), print (1) col (1) - 2 - col (1)