TBL(1)                                                     TBL(1)


NAME
       tbl - table formatter for groff

SYNOPSIS
       tbl [ -Cv ] [ files...  ]

DESCRIPTION
       tbl  is  a  preprocessor  for groff for formatting tables.
       Normally, it should be invoked  using  the  -t  option  of
       groff.  It is highly compatible with tbl.  The output gen-
       erated by tbl cannot be processed with ditroff; it must be
       processed  with  troff.  If no files are given on the com-
       mand line, the standard input will be read.  A filename of
       - will cause the standard input to be read.

OPTIONS
       -C     Recognize .TS and .TE even when followed by a char-
              acter other than space or newline.

       -v     Print the version number.

USAGE
       Only the differences between tbl  and  tbl  are  described
       here.

       The  f  format  modifier  can  be followed by an arbitrary
       length font name in parentheses.

       There is a d format modifier which means that a vertically
       spanning  entry  should  be  aligned  at the bottom of its
       range.

       There is no limit on the number of columns in a table, nor
       any  limit on the number of text blocks.  All the lines of
       a table are considered in deciding column widths, not just
       the  first  200.   Table  continuation (.T&) lines are not
       restricted to the first 200 lines.

       Numeric and alphabetic items may appear in the  same  col-
       umn.

       Numeric and alphabetic items may span horizontally.

       tbl  uses  register,  string,  macro  and  diversion names
       beginning with 3.  When using tbl you should  avoid  using
       any names beginning with a 3.

BUGS
       You  should use .TS H/.TH for all multi-page boxed tables.
       If there is no header that you wish to appear at  the  top
       of  each page of the table, place the .TH line immediately
       after the format section.  Do  not  enclose  a  multi-page
       table  within  keep/release  macros,  or  divert it in any
       other way.



Groff Version 1.05      November 22, 1992                       1

TBL(1)                                                     TBL(1)


       A text block within a table must be able  to  fit  on  one
       page.

       The  bp  request cannot be used to force a page-break in a
       multi-page table.  Instead, define BP as follows

              .de BP
              .ie '\\n(.z'' .bp \\$1
              .el \!.BP \\$1
              ..

       and use BP instead of bp.

SEE ALSO
       groff(1), troff(1)










































Groff Version 1.05      November 22, 1992                       2