---
name: "asa"
section: "1"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/asa"
---

# asa(1)

interpret carriage-control characters

## NAME

**asa** – interpret carriage-control characters

## SYNOPSIS

**asa** \[*file ...*\]

## DESCRIPTION

The **asa** utility reads files sequentially, mapping FORTRAN carriage-control characters to line-printer control sequences, and writes them to the standard output.

The first character of each line is interpreted as a carriage-control character. The following characters are interpreted as follows:

- ⟨space⟩

  Output the rest of the line without change.

- 0

  Output a ⟨newline⟩ character before printing the rest of the line.

- 1

  Output a ⟨formfeed⟩ character before printing the rest of the line.

- \+

  The trailing ⟨newline⟩ of the previous line is replaced by a ⟨carriage-return⟩ before printing the rest of the line.

Lines beginning with characters other than the above are treated as if they begin with ⟨space⟩.

## EXIT STATUS

The **asa** utility exits 0 on success, and \>0 if an error occurs.

## EXAMPLES

To view a file containing the output of a FORTRAN program:

```
asa file
```

To format the output of a FORTRAN program and redirect it to a line-printer:

```
a.out | asa | lpr
```

## STANDARDS

The **asa** utility conforms to IEEE Std 1003.1-2001 (“POSIX.1”).

## AUTHORS

J.T. Conklin, Winning Strategies, Inc.