MS(6) MS(6)
NAME
ms - macros for formatting manuscripts
SYNOPSIS
nroff -ms [ options ] file ...
troff -ms [ options ] file ...
DESCRIPTION
This package of nroff and troff(1) macro definitions pro-
vides a canned formatting facility for technical papers in
various formats.
The macro requests are defined below. Many nroff and troff
requests are unsafe in conjunction with this package, but
the following requests may be used with impunity after the
first .PP: `.bp', `.br', `.sp', `.ls', `.na'.
Output of the eqn(1), tbl(1), pic(1) and grap(1) preproces-
sors for equations, tables, pictures, and graphs is accept-
able as input.
FILES
/sys/lib/tmac/tmac.s
SEE ALSO
M. E. Lesk, ``Typing Documents on the UNIX System: Using the
-ms Macros with Troff and Nroff'', Unix Research System
Programmer's Manual, Tenth Edition, Volume 2.
eqn(1), troff(1), tbl(1), pic(1)
REQUESTS
Request Initial Cause Explanation
Value Break
.1C yes yes One column format on a new page.
.2C no yes Two column format.
.AB no yes Begin abstract.
.AE - yes End abstract.
.AI no yes Author's institution follows. Sup-
pressed in .TM.
.AT no yes Print `Attached' and turn off line fill-
ing.
.AU x y no yes Author's name follows. x is location
and y is extension, ignored except in
TM.
.B x y z no no Print x in boldface, append roman y and
preface with z; if no argument switch to
boldface.
.B1 no yes Begin text to be enclosed in a box.
.B2 no yes End boxed text.
.BI x y z no no Print x in bold italic, append roman y
Page 1 Plan 9 (printed 10/28/25)
MS(6) MS(6)
and preface with z; if no argument
switch to bold italic.
.BT date no Bottom title, automatically invoked at
foot of page. May be redefined.
.BX x no no Print x in a box.
.CW x y z no no Constant width font for x, append roman
y and preface with z; if no argument
switch to constant width.
.CT no yes Print `Copies to' and turn off line
filling.
.DA x nroff no `Date line' at bottom of page is x.
Default is today.
.DE - yes End displayed text. Implies .KE.
.DS x no yes Start of displayed text, to appear ver-
batim line-by-line: `I' indented
(default), `L' left-justified, `C' cen-
tered, `B' (block) centered with
straight left margin. Implies .KS.
.EG no - Print document in BTL format for
`Engineer's Notes.' Must be first.
.EN - yes Space after equation produced by neqn or
eqn(1).
.EQ x y - yes Display equation. Equation number is y.
Optional x is I, L, C as in .DS.
.FE - yes End footnote.
.FP x - no Set font positions for a family, e.g.,
`.FP lucidasans'
.FS no no Start footnote. The note will be moved
to the bottom of the page.
.HO - no `Bell Laboratories, Holmdel, New Jersey
07733'.
.I x y z no no Italicize x, append roman y and preface
with z; if no argument switch to italic.
.IH no no `Bell Laboratories, Naperville, Illinois
60540'
.IM no no Print document in BTL format for an
internal memorandum. Must be first.
.IP x y no yes Start indented paragraph, with hanging
tag x. Indentation is y ens (default 5).
.KE - yes End keep. Put kept text on next page if
not enough room.
.KF no yes Start floating keep. If the kept text
must be moved to the next page, float
later text back to this page.
.KS no yes Start keeping following text.
.LG no no Make letters larger.
.LP yes yes Start left-blocked paragraph.
.LT no yes Start a letter; a non-empty first argu-
ment produces a full Lucent letterhead,
a second argument is a room number, a
third argument is a telephone number.
.MF - - Print document in BTL format for
Page 2 Plan 9 (printed 10/28/25)
MS(6) MS(6)
`Memorandum for File.' Must be first.
.MH - no `Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, New
Jersey 07974'.
.MR - - Print document in BTL format for `Memo-
randum for Record.' Must be first.
.ND date troff no Use date supplied (if any) only in spe-
cial BTL format positions; omit from
page footer.
.NH n - yes Same as .SH, with automatic section num-
bers like `1.2.3'; n is subsection level
(default 1). If n is 0, reset the num-
bering.
.NL yes no Make letters normal size.
.P1 - yes Begin program display in constant width
font.
.P2 - yes End program display.
.PE - yes End picture; see pic(1).
.PF - yes End picture; restore vertical position.
.PP no yes Begin paragraph. First line indented.
.PS h w - yes Start picture; height and width in
inches.
.PY - no `Bell Laboratories, Piscataway, New Jer-
sey 08854'
.QE - yes End quoted material.
.QP - yes Begin quoted paragraph (indent both mar-
gins).
.QS - yes Begin quoted material (indent both mar-
gins).
.R yes no Roman text follows.
.RE - yes End relative indent level.
.RP no - Cover sheet and first page for released
paper. Must precede other requests.
.RS - yes Start level of relative indentation from
which subsequent indentation is mea-
sured.
.SG x no yes Insert signature(s) of author(s),
ignored except in .TM and .LT. x is the
reference line (initials of author and
typist). .}f
.SH - yes Section head follows, font automatically
bold.
.SM no no Make letters smaller.
.TA x... 5... no Set tabs in ens. Default is 5 10 15 ...
.TE - yes End table; see tbl(1).
.TH - yes End heading section of table.
.TL no yes Title follows.
.TM x... no - Print document in BTL technical memoran-
dum format. Arguments are TM number,
(quoted list of) case number(s), and
file number. Must precede other
requests.
.TR x - - Print in BTL technical report format;
Page 3 Plan 9 (printed 10/28/25)
MS(6) MS(6)
report number is x. Must be first.
.TS x - yes Begin table; if x is H table heading is
repeated on new pages.
.UL x - no Underline argument (even in troff).
.UX y z - no `zUNIXy'; first use gives registered
trademark notice.
.WH - no `Bell Laboratories, Whippany, New Jersey
07981'.
Page 4 Plan 9 (printed 10/28/25)