---
name: "uu-unexpand"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "uutils-coreutils"
version: "0.12.0-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/uu-unexpand"
---

# uu-unexpand(1)

Convert blanks in each FILE to tabs, writing to standard output. With no FILE, or when FILE is -, read standard input.

## NAME

unexpand - Convert blanks in each FILE to tabs, writing to standard output. With no FILE, or when FILE is -, read standard input.

## SYNOPSIS

**unexpand** \[OPTION\]... \[FILE\]...

## DESCRIPTION

Convert blanks in each FILE to tabs, writing to standard output. With no FILE, or when FILE is -, read standard input.

## OPTIONS

- **-a**, **--all**

  convert all blanks, instead of just initial blanks

- **-f**, **--first-only**

  convert only leading sequences of blanks (overrides -a)

- **-t**, **--tabs** *\<N, LIST\>*

  use comma separated LIST of tab positions or have tabs N characters apart instead of 8 (enables -a)

- **-U**, **--no-utf8**

  interpret input file as 8-bit ASCII rather than UTF-8

- **-h**, **--help**

  Print help

- **-V**, **--version**

  Print version

## VERSION

v(uutils coreutils) 0.12.0