NL(1)                                SysV                                NL(1)



NAME
     nl - line numbering filter

SYNOPSIS
     nl [-h type] [-b type] [-f type] [-v  start#] [-i incr] [-p] [-l num] [-s
     sep] [-w width] [-n format] [-d delim] file

DESCRIPTION
     The nl command reads lines from the named file or the standard input if
     no file is named and reproduces the lines on the standard output.  Lines
     are numbered on the left in accordance with the command options in
     effect.

     The nl command views the text it reads in terms of logical pages.  Line
     numbering is reset at the start of each logical page.  A logical page
     consists of a header, a body, and a footer section.  Empty sections are
     valid.  Different line numbering options are independently available for
     header, body, and footer (e.g., no numbering of header and footer lines
     while numbering blank lines only in the body).

     The start of logical page sections are signaled by input lines containing
     nothing but the following delimiter character(s):

               Line contents  Start of

               \:\:\:         header

               \:\:           body

               \:             footer

     Unless optioned otherwise, nl assumes the text being read is in a single
     logical page body.

     Command options may appear in any order and may be intermingled with an
     optional filename.  Only one file may be named.

OPTIONS
     -btype    Specifies which logical page body lines are to be numbered.
               Recognized types and their meaning are:

     -htype    Same as -btype except for header.  Default type for logical
               page header is n (no lines numbered).

               a       number all lines
               t       number lines with printable text only
                                                                                                                                           nno line numbering
               pstring number only lines that contain the regular expression
                       specified in string.

               Default type for logical page body is t (text lines numbered).

     -ftype    Same as -btype except for footer.  Default for logical page
               footer is n (no lines numbered).

     -vstart#  Start# is the initial value used to number logical page lines.
               Default is 1.

     -iincr    Incr is the increment value used to number logical page lines.
               Default is 1.

     -p        Do not restart numbering at logical page delimiters.

     -lnum     Num is the number of blank lines to be considered as one.  For
               example, -l2 results in only the second adjacent blank being
               numbered (if the appropriate -ha, -ba, and/or -fa option is
               set).  Default is 1.

     -ssep     Sep is the character(s) used in separating the line number and
               the corresponding text line.  Default sep is a tab.

     -wwidth   Width is the number of characters to be used for the line
               number.  Default width is 6.

     -nformat  Format is the line numbering format.  Recognized values are:
               ln, left justified, leading zeroes suppressed; rn, right
               justified, leading zeroes supressed; rz, right justified,
               leading zeroes kept.  Default format is rn (right justified).

     -dxx      The delimiter characters specifying the start of a logical page
               section may be changed from the default characters (\:) to two
               user-specified characters.  If only one character is entered,
               the second character remains the default character (:).  No
               space should appear between the -d and the delimiter
               characters.  To enter a backslash, use two backslashes.

EXAMPLE
     The following command will number file1 starting at line number 10 with
     an increment of ten.  The logical page delimiters are !+.

               nl -v10 -i10 -d!+ file1

SEE ALSO
     pr(1).