nroff Command
Purpose
Formats text for printing on typewriter-like devices and line printers.
Syntax
nroff [ -e ] [ -h ] [ -i ] [ -q ] [ -z ] [ -o List ] [ -n Number ] [ -s Number ] [ -r ANumber ] [ -u Number ] [ -T Name ] [ -man ] [ -me ] [ -mm ] [ -mptx ] [ -ms ] [ File ... | - ]
Description
The nroff command reads one or more files for printing on typewriter-like devices and line printers. If no file is specified or the - (minus sign) flag is specified as the last parameter, standard input is read by default. The File variable specifies files to be printed on a typewriter-like device by the nroff command. The default is standard input.
The col command may be required to postprocess nroff command output in certain cases.
Flags
Item | Description |
---|---|
-e | Produces equally spaced words in adjusted lines, using the full resolution of a particular terminal. |
-h | Uses output tabs during horizontal spacing to speed output and reduce the output character count. Tab settings are assumed to be every eight nominal character widths. |
-i | Reads standard input after reading all specified files. |
-man | Selects the man macro processing package. |
-me | Selects the me macro processing package. |
-mm | Selects the mm macro processing package. |
-mptx | Selects the mptx macro processing package. |
-ms | Selects the ms macro processing package. |
-n Number | Assigns the specified number to the first printed page. |
-o List | Prints only those pages specified by the List variable,
which consists of a comma-separated list of page numbers and ranges,
as follows:
|
-q | Calls the simultaneous input/output mode of the .rd request. |
-r ANumber | Sets register A to the specified number. The value specified by the A variable must have a one-character ASCII name. |
-s Number | Stops every specified number of pages (the default is 1). The nroff command halts every specified number of pages to allow paper loading or changing, then resumes upon receipt of a linefeed or new-line character. This flag does not work in pipelines (for example, with the mm command). When the nroff command halts between pages, an ASCII BEL character is sent to the workstation. |
-T Name | Prepares the output for the specified printing device. Typewriter-like
devices and line printers use the following Name variables
for international extended character sets, as well as English-language
character sets, digits, and symbols:
Note: The 4019 and the HP Laser Jet II printer both have nonprintable areas at the top and bottom of a page. If a file is targeted for these printers, be sure to define top and bottom margins (for example, by formatting with the -mm flag) so that all output can be positioned within the printable page.
|
-T Name (Continued) |
|
-u Number | Sets the bold factor (number of character overstrokes) for the third font position (bold) to the specified number, or to 0 if the Number variable is missing. |
-z | Prints only messages generated by .tm (workstation
message) requests. Note: See the Macro Packages for Formatting Tools in the troff command for information about the macros. |
- | Forces input to be read from standard input. |
Files
Item | Description |
---|---|
/usr/share/lib/tmac/tmac.* | Contains pointers to standard macro files. |
/usr/share/lib/macros/* | Contains standard macro files. |
/usr/share/lib/nterm/* | Contains the terminal driving tables for the nroff command. |
/usr/share/lib/pub/terminals | Contains a list of supported terminals. |