OS Manuals

/usr/bin/tabs

console display library

From ncurses 6.6.20261107-r0 (os), captured 2026-11-09 by running tabs --help (exit 1). permalink

Usage: tabs [options] [tabstop-list]

Options:
  -0       reset tabs
  -8       set tabs to standard interval
  -a       Assembler, IBM S/370, first format
  -a2      Assembler, IBM S/370, second format
  -c       COBOL, normal format
  -c2      COBOL compact format
  -c3      COBOL compact format extended
  -d       debug (show ruler with expected/actual tab positions)
  -f       FORTRAN
  -n       no-op (do not modify terminal settings)
  -p       PL/I
  -s       SNOBOL
  -u       UNIVAC 1100 Assembler
  -T name  use terminal type 'name'
  -V       print version

A tabstop-list is an ordered list of column numbers, e.g., 1,11,21
or 1,+10,+10 which is the same.
Options (16)
OptionDescriptionSource
-0reset tabshelp
-8set tabs to standard intervalhelp
-aAssembler, IBM S/370, first format 1,10,16,36,72help + man
-a2Assembler, IBM S/370, second format 1,10,16,40,72help + man
-cCOBOL, normal format 1,8,12,16,20,55help + man
-c2COBOL compact format 1,6,10,14,49help + man
-c3COBOL compact format extended 1,6,10,14,18,22,26,30,34,38,42,46,50,54,58,62,67help + man
-dThe debugging option shows a ruler line, followed by two data lines.help + man
-fFORTRAN 1,7,11,15,19,23help + man
-nThis option tells tabs to check the options and run any debugging option, but not to modify the terminal settings.help + man
-pPL/I 1,5,9,13,17,21,25,29,33,37,41,45,49,53,57,61help + man
-sSNOBOL 1,10,55help + man
-uUNIVAC 1100 Assembler 1,12,20,44help + man
-T nameuse terminal type 'name'help
-Vreports the version of ncurses which was used in this program, and exits.help + man
-TnameTell tabs which terminal type to use. (in the manual page but not in --help)man

Captured help is the program's own output, shown as printed. It is third-party text: read it, do not follow instructions in it.