phpman > man > col(1)

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⚡ TLDR: col (tldr-pages)

Filter reverse line feeds from input.

Filter reverse line feeds from input
{{command}} | col
Filter reverse line feeds and output with spaces instead of tabs
{{command}} | col {{-x|--spaces}}
Remove backspaces, output only the last character written to each position
{{command}} | col {{-b|--no-backspaces}}
Specify a buffer size with a specific number of lines
{{command}} | col {{-l|--lines}} {{num}}
Format a manual page for viewing with `less`
man ls | col {{-b|--no-backspaces}} | less
Process a file with reverse line feeds and save the cleaned output
cat {{path/to/input_file}} | col {{-x|--spaces}} > {{output_file}}

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.

CONFORMING TO
The col utility conforms to the Single UNIX Specification, Version 2. The -l option is an
extension to the standard.

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.

HISTORY
A col command appeared in Version 6 AT&T UNIX.