TBL(1-BSD)          RISC/os Reference Manual           TBL(1-BSD)



NAME
     tbl - format tables for nroff or troff

SYNOPSIS
     tbl [ files ] ...

DESCRIPTION
     tbl is a preprocessor for formatting tables for nroff or
     troff(1).  The input files are copied to the standard out-
     put, except for lines between .TS and .TE command lines,
     which are assumed to describe tables and are reformatted.

EXAMPLE
     As an example, letting <TAB> represent a tab (which should
     be typed as a genuine tab) the input

          .TS
          c s s
          c c s
          c c c
          l n n.
          Household Population
          Town<TAB>Households
          <TAB>Number<TAB>Size
          Bedminster<TAB>789<TAB>3.26
          Bernards Twp.<TAB>3087<TAB>3.74
          Bernardsville<TAB>2018<TAB>3.30
          Bound Brook<TAB>3425<TAB>3.04
          Branchburg<TAB>1644<TAB>3.49
          Bridgewater<TAB>7897<TAB>3.81
          Far Hills<TAB>240<TAB>3.19
          .TE

     yields
              Household Population
              Town         Households
                          Number   Size
          Bedminster        789    3.26
          Bernards Twp.    3087    3.74
          Bernardsville    2018    3.30
          Bound Brook      3425    3.04
          Branchburg       1644    3.49
          Bridgewater      7897    3.81
          Far Hills         240    3.19

     If no arguments are given, tbl reads the standard input, so
     it may be used as a filter.  When tbl is used with eqn or
     neqn the tbl command should be first, to minimize the volume
     of data passed through pipes.

SEE ALSO
     troff(1), eqn(1)



                         Printed 1/15/91                   Page 1