TROFF(1) — User’s Manual — Commands

NAME

troff − typeset or format documents

SYNOPSIS

troff [ −opagelist ] [ −nN ] [ −sN ] [ −m name ] [ −raN ] [ −i ] [ −q ] [ −t ] [ −f ] [ −w ] [ −b ]

[ −a ] [ −pN ] [ file ] ...

DESCRIPTION

Troff formats text in the named files. The output is by default destined for printing on a Graphic Systems C/A/T phototypesetter, but suitable postprocessing software can convert the C/A/T output to a form which can be directed to other high-resolution devices. See also the nroff(1) manual page, which describes a formatter which formats text for typewriter-like devices. The capabilities of both troff and nroff are described in the Nroff/Troff user’s manual.

If no file argument is present, the standard input is read. An argument consisting of a single minus (−) is taken to be a file name corresponding to the standard input.

OPTIONS

Options may appear in any order so long as they appear before the files.

−olist Print only pages whose page numbers appear in the comma-separated list of numbers and ranges. A range N−M means pages N through M; an initial −N means from the beginning to page N; and a final N− means from N to the end.

−nN Number first generated page N.

−mname
Prepend the macro file /usr/lib/tmac/tmac.name to the input files.

−raN Set register a (one-character) to N.

−i Read standard input after the input files are exhausted.

−q Invoke the simultaneous input-output mode of the rd request.

−t Direct output to the standard output instead of the phototypesetter. In general, you will have to use this option if you don’t have a typesetter attached to the system.

−a Send a printable ASCII approximation of the results to the standard output.

Some options of troff only apply if you have a C/A/T typesetter attached to your system. These options are here for historical reasons:

−sN Stop every N pages. Troff stops the phototypesetter every N pages, produces a trailer to allow changing cassettes, and resumes when the typesetter’s start button is pressed.

−f Refrain from feeding out paper and stopping phototypesetter at the end of the run.

−w Wait until phototypesetter is available, if currently busy.

−b Report whether the phototypesetter is busy or available. No text processing is done.

−pN Print all characters in point size N while retaining all prescribed spacings and motions, to reduce phototypesetter elasped time.

If the file /usr/adm/tracct is writable, troff keeps phototypesetter accounting records there. The integrity of that file may be secured by making troff a ’set user-id’ program.

FILES

/tmp/ta∗temporary file
/usr/lib/tmac/tmac.∗standard macro files
/usr/lib/term/∗terminal driving tables for nroff
/usr/lib/font/∗font width tables for troff
/dev/catphototypesetter
/usr/adm/tracctaccounting statistics for /dev/cat

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