=item B<-blbp=n>, B<--blank-lines-before-packages=n>
The parameter B<-blbp=n> requests that least B<n> blank lines precede a package
-which does not follow a comment. The default is <-blbp=1>.
+which does not follow a comment. The default is B<-blbp=1>.
This parameter interacts with the value B<k> of the parameter
B<--maximum-consecutive-blank-lines=k> (B<-mbl=k>) in the same way as described
certain block types (see previous section). The default is 8. Entering
a value of B<0> is equivalent to entering a very large number.
+=item B<-blao=i> or B<--blank-lines-after-opening-block=i>
+
+This control places a minimum of B<i> blank lines B<after> a line which B<ends>
+with an opening block brace of a specified type. By default, this only applies
+to the block of a named B<sub>, but this can be changed (see B<-blaol> below).
+The default is not to do this (B<i=0>).
+
+Please see the note below on using the B<-blao> and B<-blbc> options.
+
+=item B<-blbc=i> or B<--blank-lines-before-closing-block=i>
+
+This control places a minimum of B<i> blank lines B<before> a line which
+B<begins> with a closing block brace of a specified type. By default, this
+only applies to the block of a named B<sub>, but this can be changed (see
+B<-blbcl> below). The default is not to do this (B<i=0>).
+
+=item B<-blaol=s> or B<--blank-lines-after-opening-block-list=s>
+
+The parameter B<s> is a list of block type keywords to which the flag B<-blao>
+should apply. The section L<"Specifying Block Types"> explains how to list
+block types.
+
+=item B<-blbcl=s> or B<--blank-lines-before-closing-block-list=s>
+
+This parameter is a list of block type keywords to which the flag B<-blbc>
+should apply. The section L<"Specifying Block Types"> explains how to list
+block types.
+
+=item Note on using the B<-blao> and B<-blbc> options.
+
+These blank line controls introduce a certain minimum number of blank lines in
+the text, but the final number of blank lines may be greater, depending on
+values of the other blank line controls and the number of old blank lines. A
+consequence is that introducing blank lines with these and other controls
+cannot be exactly undone, so some experimentation with these controls is
+recommended before using them.
+
+For example, suppose that for some reason we decide to introduce one blank
+space at the beginning and ending of all blocks. We could do
+this using
+
+ perltidy -blao=2 -blbc=2 -blaol='*' -blbcl='*' filename
+
+Now suppose the script continues to be developed, but at some later date we
+decide we don't want these spaces after all. we might expect that running with
+the flags B<-blao=0> and B<-blbc=0> will undo them. However, by default
+perltidy retains single blank lines, so the blank lines remain.
+
+We can easily fix this by telling perltidy to ignore old blank lines by
+including the added parameter B<-kbl=0> and rerunning. Then the unwanted blank
+lines will be gone. However, this will cause all old blank lines to be
+ignored, perhaps even some that were added by hand to improve formatting. So
+please be cautious when using these parameters.
+
=item B<-mbl=n> B<--maximum-consecutive-blank-lines=n>
This parameter specifies the maximum number of consecutive blank lines which
An exception is a labeled block, which has no keyword, and should be specified
with just a colon. To specify all blocks use B<'*'>.
+The keyword B<sub> indicates a named sub. For anonymous subs, use the special
+keyword B<asub>.
+
For example, the following parameter specifies C<sub>, labels, C<BEGIN>, and
C<END> blocks:
=head1 VERSION
-This man page documents perltidy version 20160302.
-
-=head1 CREDITS
-
-Michael Cartmell supplied code for adaptation to VMS and helped with
-v-strings.
-
-Yves Orton supplied code for adaptation to the various versions
-of Windows.
-
-Axel Rose supplied a patch for MacPerl.
+This man page documents perltidy version 20170521.
-Hugh S. Myers designed and implemented the initial Perl::Tidy module interface.
+=head1 BUG REPORTS
-Many others have supplied key ideas, suggestions, and bug reports;
-see the CHANGES file.
+A list of current bugs and issues can be found at the CPAN site
-=head1 AUTHOR
+ https://rt.cpan.org/Public/Dist/Display.html?Name=Perl-Tidy
- Steve Hancock
- email: perltidy at users.sourceforge.net
- http://perltidy.sourceforge.net
+To report a new bug or problem, use the link on this page.
=head1 COPYRIGHT
-Copyright (c) 2000-2012 by Steve Hancock
+Copyright (c) 2000-2017 by Steve Hancock
=head1 LICENSE