[ILUG] displaying directory listings

[Darragh]

Hello,
this is probably a very basic question but is there an arguement that I can
use with ls or another command to show a directory list in one columb? i.e.
I don't want more than one file or directory per line.

Finally I'd like to know how to space listings so if a file name was less
than 40 characters another file or directry name was shown in the next 40
chunk.

I'd also like to give directorys a different starting character instead of
having the color change as although brltty can distinguish this its kind of
confusing me.
Thanks

Darragh