BCD(6) | Games Manual | BCD(6)

# NAME

`bcd` — reformat input as punch cards

# SYNOPSIS

`bcd` | [`-l`] [string ...]

`bcd` | `-d` [`-l`]

# DESCRIPTION

The `bcd` command reads the given input and reformats it as an ASCII art representation of punched cards for the GE 635 and GE 645 computers used at Bell Labs in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Acceptable input are command line arguments or the standard input.

The options are as follows:

`-d`
  Decode punch cards on the standard input back to ASCII.
`-l`
  Create or decode 80 column punch cards. The default is 48 columns.

# SEE ALSO

ppt(6)

# STANDARDS

ISO 1681:1973, Information processing--Unpunched paper cards--Specification.

ISO 1682:1973, Information processing--80 columns punched paper cards--Dimensions and location of rectangular punched holes.

# HISTORY

The `bcd` game first appeared in Version 6 AT&T UNIX.

September 8, 2019 | Debian