tbl(1) — Commands
NAME
tbl − formats tables for nroff
SYNOPSIS
tbl [file ... ]
FLAGS
−TXProduces output without fractional line motions. You use this flag when the destination output device or printer or post-filter cannot handle fractional line motions.
−msReads in ms macros prior to table formatting.
−mmReads in the mm macros prior to table formatting, if your system has the ∗roff mm macros installed.
DESCRIPTION
The tbl preprocessor is used for formatting tables for nroff. When you run tbl, the input files are copied to standard output, except for lines between the .TS (table start) and .TE (table end) command lines. All lines between the .TS and .TE command lines are assumed to describe a table and are reformatted.
If no arguments are given, tbl reads from standard input, so it can be used as a filter. When tbl is used with neqn or other equation formatting ∗roff tools, the tbl command should be invoked first to minimize the volume of data passed through the pipes.
EXAMPLES
The following example shows a table that has been coded using tbl macros and the results after you run tbl to format the table.
.TS
tab(@);
c s s
c c s
c c c
l n n.
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
.TE
When formatted by tbl and then nroff, the output is as follows:
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