EXPAND(1) BSD Reference Manual EXPAND(1) NNAAMMEE eexxppaanndd, uunneexxppaanndd - expand tabs to spaces, and vice versa SSYYNNOOPPSSIISS eexxppaanndd [--_t_a_b_s_t_o_p] [--_t_a_b_1_,_t_a_b_2_,_._._._,_t_a_b_n] _f_i_l_e _._._. uunneexxppaanndd [--aa] _f_i_l_e _._._. DDEESSCCRRIIPPTTIIOONN EExxppaanndd 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. EExxppaanndd 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. UUnneexxppaanndd puts tabs back into the data from the standard input or the named files and writes the result on the standard output. Option (with uunneexxppaanndd only): --aa By default, only leading blanks and tabs are reconverted to maximal strings of tabs. If the --aa option is given, then tabs are inserted whenever they would compress the resultant file by replacing two or more characters. HHIISSTTOORRYY The eexxppaanndd command appeared in 3.0BSD. 4th Berkeley Distribution June 9, 1993 1