=====
a8cat
=====

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Convert Atari 8-bit text to UTF-8 encoded Unicode.
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.. include:: manhdr.rst

SYNOPSIS
========

*a8cat* [**-r**] [**-i**] [**-u**] [**-t**] [*infile*] [*infile ...*]

DESCRIPTION
===========

Convert Atari 8-bit ATASCII or XL ICS (International Character
Set) text to UTF-8 encoded Unicode. Control graphics characters are
replaced with their nearest Unicode equivalents (mostly from the Box
Drawing block, or from the Basic Latin block with **-i** option).

If no *infile*\s are given, input is read from standard input. Output always
goes to standard output; to write to a file, use a command like::

  a8cat atari.txt > converted.txt

The output is plain UTF-8 Unicode, without BOM.

Inverse video (characters codes above **$80**) are translated using
the ANSI/VT-100 reverse video escape sequences. Exception: **$9B**
(Atari EOL) is translated to **\\n** (newline).

OPTIONS
=======

-i
  Input uses Atari XL/XE International Character Set encoding, rather than
  ATASCII graphics.

-u
  Use "underlining" for inverse video. Each inverse character is followed by
  a backspace, then a *_* character. When viewed in a pager such as **less**\(1),
  this causes the characters to appear underlined. Output created with this
  option cannot be converted back to ATASCII with the **-r** option.

-t
  Text mode. Normally, everything but EOL (**$9B**) is converted to a
  Unicode graphics character. In text mode, ATASCII tabs, backspace,
  and bells are translated to the ASCII versions.

-r
  Reverse conversion: Input is UTF-8, output is ATASCII (or XL ICS, with **-i**).
  Beware that printing ATASCII to a terminal may look funny, and may even confuse
  the terminal. Redirecting to a file is safe.

.. include:: manftr.rst