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 be-
low.
-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 re-
turn
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)