4.3BSD - /usr/man/cat1/expand.0

EXPAND(1)                                                            EXPAND(1)


NAME
       expand, unexpand - expand tabs to spaces, and vice versa

SYNOPSIS
       expand [ -tabstop ] [ -tab1,tab2,...,tabn ] [ file ...  ]
       unexpand [ -a ] [ file ...  ]

DESCRIPTION
       Expand  processes  the  named  files  or the standard input writing the
       standard output with tabs changed into  blanks.   Backspace  characters
       are  preserved  into  the output and decrement the column count for tab
       calculations.  Expand is  useful  for  pre-processing  character  files
       (before  sorting, looking at specific columns, etc.) that contain tabs.

       If a single tabstop argument is given, then tabs are set tabstop spaces
       apart  instead  of  the default 8.  If multiple tabstops are given then
       the tabs are set at those specific columns.

       Unexpand puts tabs back into the data from the standard  input  or  the
       named  files and writes the result on the standard output.  By default,
       only leading blanks and tabs are  reconverted  to  maximal  strings  of
       tabs.   If the -a option is given, then tabs are inserted whenever they
       would compress the resultant file by replacing two or more  characters.


4th Berkeley Distribution         May 9, 1986                        EXPAND(1)