gnu@sri-unix (09/08/82)
Various ANSI standards have made it an OPTION for LF to act as Newline. The deal with Options is that they depend on "prior agreement between sender and receiver" which of course blows plug-compatability which is the whole point of standardization. ANSI standard X3.64 defines a specific escape sequence which can be used to turn this Option off and on, again if both ends understand the escape sequence...it's the parameter "20" to the SM (Set Mode) and RM (Reset Mode) escape sequences. However, it's still entirely "ANSI standard" to have LF mean "go down to the same column in the next line", and obviously most terminal manufacturers, computer manufacturers, operating system writers, etc, agree. The onus is on those who want the LF=NL option; it is THEY who must make sure both sides of their interface understand the Option. This has little bearing on how you store text files (the relevant ANSI standards are for datacomm), but so many people have this wrong idea about newer standards that I though I'd set the record straight.