TROFF(1) TROFF(1)
NAME
troff, nroff, dpost - text formatting and typesetting
SYNOPSIS
troff [ option ... ] [ file ... ]
dpost [ -f ] [ file ... ]
nroff [ option ... ] [ file ... ]
DESCRIPTION
Troff formats text in the named files for printing on a
typesetter, emitting a textual intermediate format called
`typesetter-independent troff output', understood by pro-
grams such as proof(1) and lp(1), but also by a troff post-
processor named dpost, which emits corresponding Postscript.
Under -f, dpost also emits Postscript font definitions as
needed. Nroff does the same as troff, but produces output
suitable for typewriter-like devices, usually without fur-
ther post-processing, but see col(1).
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. The
options are:
-olist Print pages in the comma-separated list of numbers
and ranges. A range N-M means N through M; initial
-M means up to M; final N- means from N to the end.
-nN Number first generated page N.
-mname Process the macro file /sys/lib/tmac/tmac.name
before the input files.
-raN Set register a (one character name) to N.
-i Read standard input after the input files are
exhausted.
-q Invoke the simultaneous input-output mode of the rd
request.
-N Produce output suitable for typewriter-like devices.
Typesetter devices (not -N) only
-a Send a printable textual approximation of the
results to the standard output.
-Tdest Prepare output for typesetter dest:
Page 1 Plan 9 (printed 10/28/25)
TROFF(1) TROFF(1)
-Tutf (The default.) PostScript printers with
preprocessing to handle Unicode characters
encoded in UTF
-Tpost Regular PostScript printers
-T202 Mergenthaler Linotron 202
-Fdir Take font information from directory dir.
Typewriter (-N) output only
-sN Halt prior to every N pages (default N=1) to allow
paper loading or changing.
-Tname Prepare output for specified terminal. Known names
include utf for the normal Plan 9 UTF encoding of
the Unicode Standard character set (default), 37 for
the Teletype model 37, lp (`line-printer') for any
terminal without half-line capability, 450 for the
DASI-450 (Diablo Hyterm), and think (HP ThinkJet).
-e Produce equally-spaced words in adjusted lines,
using full terminal resolution.
-h Use output tabs during horizontal spacing to speed
output and reduce output character count. Tab set-
tings are assumed to be every 8 nominal character
widths.
FILES
/tmp/trtmp* temporary file
/sys/lib/tmac/tmac.* standard macro files
/sys/lib/troff/term/* terminal driving tables for nroff
/sys/lib/troff/font/* font width tables for troff
SOURCE
/sys/src/cmd/troff
/rc/bin/dpost
SEE ALSO
lp(1), proof(1), page(1), eqn(1), tbl(1), pic(1), grap(1),
doctype(1), ms(6), image(6), deroff(1), col(1)
J. F. Ossanna and B. W. Kernighan, ``Troff User's Manual''
B. W. Kernighan, ``A Typesetter-Independent TROFF'', CSTR
#97
B. W. Kernighan, ``A TROFF Tutorial'', Unix Research System
Programmer's Manual, Tenth Edition, Volume 2.
Page 2 Plan 9 (printed 10/28/25)