in the range  16 through 4095

This option specifies the full width of the output line, including any start-of-line indentation. The output will fill each line as completely as possible, unless the column width has been explicitly specified. If the maximum width is less than the length of the widest input, you will get a single column of output.

in the range  1 through 2048

Use this option to specify exactly how many columns to produce. If that many columns will not fit within line_width, then the count will be reduced to the number that fit.

in the range  1 through 2048

Use this option to specify exactly how many characters are to be allocated for each column. If it is narrower than the widest entry, it will be over-ridden with the required width.

If an indentation string contains tabs, then this value is used to compute the ending column of the prefix string.

in the range  1 through 1024

Use this option to specify exactly how many characters may be added to each column. It allows you to prevent columns from becoming too far apart. Without this option, columns will attempt to widen columns to fill the full width.

Instead of columnizing the input text, fill the output lines with the input lines. Blank lines on input will cause a blank line in the output, unless the output is sorted. With sorted output, blank lines are ignored.

If a number, then this many spaces will be inserted at the start of every line. Otherwise, it is a line prefix that will be inserted at the start of every line.

If a number, then this many spaces will be inserted at the start of the first line. Otherwise, it is a line prefix that will be inserted at the start of that line. If its length exceeds "indent", then it will be emitted on a line by itself, suffixed by any line separation string. For example:

    $ columns --first='#define TABLE' -c 2 -I4 --line=' ´ <<_EOF_
    one
    two
    three
    four
    _EOF_
    #define TABLE         one   two         three four

If you need to reformat each input text, the argument to this option is interpreted as an sprintf(3) format that is used to produce each output entry.

Use this option if, for example, you wish a comma to appear after each entry except the last.

Use this option if, for example, you wish a backslash to appear at the end of every line, except the last.

This option puts the specified string at the end of the output.

Normally, the entries are printed out in order by rows and then columns. This option will cause the entries to be ordered within columns. The final column, instead of the final row, may be shorter than the others.

Causes the input text to be sorted. If an argument is supplied, it is presumed to be a pattern and the sort is based upon the matched text. If the pattern starts with or consists of an asterisk (*), then the sort is case insensitive.

This program normally runs as a filter, reading from standard input, columnizing and writing to standard out. This option redirects input to a file.