VCIF(1)                                                                VCIF(1)



NAME
       vcif - validate syntax of Crystallographic Information File

SYNOPSIS
       vcif [-option ...]   file-name

DESCRIPTION
       Vcif  reads  a file in CIF(5) format, and writes to standard output any
       syntax errors it finds. Unlike a strict CIF parser, which will exit  on
       encountering the first syntax error in a file, vcif attempts to recover
       and report further errors. However, certain errors  (such  as  untermi-
       nated text fields) can confuse the program.

       If file-name is "-", vcif will read from standard input.


OPTIONS
       -l nn   Maximum  line  length.  Report lines exceeding nn characters in
               length (the default is the CIF standard value of 80).

       -w nn   Maximum length of datanames or data_ block headers. Report  any
               exceeding nn characters in length (the default is the CIF stan-
               dard value of 32).

       -q      Quiet. Report no errors. The return value of the program  is  a
               count of the number of errors encountered.

       -v      Verbose.  Give  a  more  complete  account of each error on its
               first occurrence.  This mode will  only  report  the  first  20
               errors, unless this is over-ridden by the -e option.

       -s      Do not flag extra STAR(5) file syntax features, such as global_
               and save_ frames, as errors. Useful for checking the syntax  of
               CIF dictionary files, which have these additional features.

       -e nn   Number  of errors to report. The default is 20 in verbose mode,
               and unlimited otherwise.

       -D debug-file-name
               Write (copious) debugging output to the named file.


BUGS
       Embedded nulls in an input file will confuse the program.

AUTHOR
       B. McMahon

SEE ALSO
       quasar(1), sb(1), CIF(5), STAR(5)




                                                                       VCIF(1)