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| Chapter 12 Nroff and Troff |

## 12.2 Command-line Invocation

Nroff and troff are invoked from the command line as follows:

> /usr/ucb/nroff [`options`] [`files`]

> /usr/ucb/troff [`options`] [`files`]

Many of the options are the same for both formatters.

`Nroff/troff options`

  -F`dir`

    Search for font tables in directory `dir`.

  -i

    Read standard input after `files` are processed.

  -m`name`

    Prepend a macro file to input `files`. Troff prepends `/usr/lib/tmac/tmac.``name`. Nroff prepends `/usr/share/lib/tmac/tmac.``name`.

  -n`N`

    First output page has page number `N`.

  -o`list`

    Print pages contained only in the comma-separated `list`. Page ranges can be specified as `n``-``m`, `-``m` (first page through `m`), or `n``-` (`n` through end of file).

  -r`aN`

    Set register `a` to `N`.

  -s`N`

    Stop every `n` pages. This allows changing of a paper cassette. Resume by pressing RETURN (in nroff) or by pressing the start button on the typesetter (in troff).

  -T`name`

    Prepare output designed for printer or typesetter `name`. For device names, see your specific documentation or a local expert.

  -u`N`

    The font in position 3 is overstruck `N` times. Typically used to adjust the weight of the bold font.

  -z

    Discard output except messages generated by .tm request.

Nroff-only options

  `-e`

    When justifying output lines, space words equally (using terminal resolution instead of full space increments).

  `-h`

    Hasten output by replacing 8 horizontal spaces with a tab.

  `-q`

    Invoke simultaneous input/output of `.rd` requests.

Troff-only options

  `-a`

    Format a printable ASCII approximation. Useful for finding page counts without producing printed output.

  `-f`

    Don't stop typesetter when formatting is done.

Examples

  Run `chap1` through the tbl preprocessor, then format the result using the mm macros, with register `N` set to 5 (sets the page-numbering style), etc.:

  >     tbl chap1 | troff -mm -rN5 | spooler &

  Format `chap2` using the ms macros; the first page is 7, but print only pages 8-10, 15, and 18 through the end of the file:

  >     nroff -ms -n7 -o8-10,15,18- chap2 &

12.1 Introduction |  | 12.3 Using the Requests: An Overview