On 11/17/2010 07:39 AM, Phil Requirements wrote: > expand --> converts tabs to spaces > column --> takes a list and displays it in columns > column -t --> takes lines of data, splits each line, displays the result in > columns > While I see it this way:
expand --> Format tab-indented text and tab-separated tables using spaces. column -t --> Format tab-separated tables using spaces. column --> Format lists into columns. Pick this scenario: A user have tab-separated tabular data. 1. He try to format it, using expand -t 8 2. He see it's not good enough, he does it again with expand -t 10 3. He see it's okay for some columns, but is too wide for others. Then he uses column -t Thought the whole process, the source data doesn't change, the purpose doesn't change, but tool changed. I follow the idea that usage leads to tools, that "you have tools for a usage", while traditional column tool seems to design from tools to usage, that "you have tools which can used for usages". I guess this is more rational from learning prospective. -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [email protected] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [email protected] Archive: http://lists.debian.org/[email protected]
