iconv(1)iconv(1)Nameiconv - international codeset conversion
Syntaxiconv [-d] -f fromcodeset -t tocodeset [file...]
Description
The command converts the encoding of characters in its input from one
codeset to another codeset. The fromcodeset argument specifies the
codeset used to encode the data in the input; that is, it specifies the
input codeset. The tocodeset argument specifies the codeset to which
you want the input data converted; that is, it specifies the output
codeset. The command performs the conversion by reading rules from a
conversion table you create. The command reads its input from standard
input or from one or more files named on the command line. The command
writes its output to standard output.
You define conversion rules in a conversion table. The conversion rules
specify how converts a particular character or group of characters,
which are called tokens. The conversion table is a text file that con‐
tains two lists. In the left-hand list, you specify each token you
want to convert. In the right-hand list, you specify the token you
want to create in the output file. For example, if you issued the fol‐
lowing command:
% iconv-fupper -tlower conversion_file
This command uses the conversion table located in the file that speci‐
fies how to convert from an uppercase codeset to a lowercase codeset.
The following shows part of the conversion table:
#
# Converts from uppercase to lowercase
#
# Input token Output token
# ------------- ------------------
A a
B b
C c
D d
E e
F f
G g
.
.
.
Z z
#
# Convert tabs to spaces using octal
#
\011 \040\040\040
#
# Convert the A umlaut to lowercase
#
A a
Each line in the conversion table must contain two strings, an input
token and an output token. The tokens must be delimited with spaces or
tabs. The backslash character ( \ ) either causes the command to rec‐
ognize a character it normally ignores or introduces a three digit
octal constant. All octal constants in the conversion table must con‐
tain three digits. Lines that begin with a hash symbol (#) are com‐
ments. The command ignores comment lines and blank lines.
You name the conversion table file using the name of the input codeset,
an underscore, and the name of the output codeset. For example, if
your input codeset is ISO646 and your output codeset is ISO8859, you
might name the conversion table file
The command searches for the conversion table file in the directory
specified by the pathname. If the ${ICONV} environment variable is
undefined, the command searches the directory.
The operation of the command is 8-bit transparent.
Options-d Deletes any characters that are omitted from the conversion table.
By default, the command sends characters that are omitted to the
output file without modifying them.
-f Specifies the name of the input codeset.
-t Specifies the name of the output codeset.
Restrictions
The conversion table file name can contain no more than 255 characters.
You may need to truncate the name of the input codeset or output code‐
set when you name the conversion table file.
Examples
The following shows an example of using the command:
This command converts the data in from ISO646 encoding to ISO8859
encoding. The command reads the conversion table from the file. If
the ${ICONV} environment variable is undefined, the command uses the
file. If that file does not exist, the command issues an error message
and does not convert the data file. The command writes the results of
any conversion it performs to the file
FilesSee Alsoenviron(5int)
Guide to Developing International Software
iconv(1)
