NAME

pr − print files

SYNOPSIS

pr [ options ] [ file ...  ]

DESCRIPTION

Pr prints the named files on the standard output.  If file is −, or if no files are specified, the standard input is assumed.  By default, the listing is separated into pages, each headed by the page number, a date and time, and the name of the file. 

By default, columns are of equal width, separated by at least one space; lines which do not fit are truncated. If the −s option is used, lines are not truncated and columns are separated by the separation character. 

If the standard output is associated with a terminal, error messages are withheld until pr has completed printing. 

The below options may appear singly or be combined in any order:

+k Begin printing with page k (default is 1). 

−k Produce k-column output (default is 1). The options −e and −i are assumed for multi-column output. 

−a Print multi-column output across the page. 

−m Merge and print all files simultaneously, one per column (overrides the −k, and −a options). 

−d Double-space the output. 

−eck Expand input tabs to character positions k+1, 2∗k+1, 3∗k+1, etc. If k is 0 or is omitted, default tab settings at every eighth position are assumed.  Tab characters in the input are expanded into the appropriate number of spaces.  If c (any non-digit character) is given, it is treated as the input tab character (default for c is the tab character). 

−ick In output, replace white space wherever possible by inserting tabs to character positions k+1, 2∗k+1, 3∗k+1, etc. If k is 0 or is omitted, default tab settings at every eighth position are assumed.  If c (any non-digit character) is given, it is treated as the output tab character (default for c is the tab character). 

−nck Provide k-digit line numbering (default for k is 5).  The number occupies the first k+1 character positions of each column of normal output or each line of −m output.  If c (any non-digit character) is given, it is appended to the line number to separate it from whatever follows (default for c is a tab). 

−wk Set the width of a line to k character positions (default is 72 for equal-width multi-column output, no limit otherwise).  Width specifications are only effective for multi-columnar output. 

−ok Offset each line by k character positions (default is 0).  The number of character positions per line is the sum of the width and offset. 

−lk Set the length of a page to k lines (default is 66). 

−h Use the next argument as the header to be printed instead of the file name. 

−p Pause before beginning each page if the output is directed to a terminal (pr will ring the bell at the terminal and wait for a carriage return). 

−f Use form-feed character for new pages (default is to use a sequence of line-feeds).  Pause before beginning the first page if the standard output is associated with a terminal. 

−r Print no diagnostic reports on failure to open files. 

−t Print neither the five-line identifying header nor the five-line trailer normally supplied for each page.  Quit printing after the last line of each file without spacing to the end of the page. 

−sc Separate columns by the single character c instead of by the appropriate number of spaces (default for c is a tab). 

EXAMPLES

Print file1 and file2 as a double-spaced, three-column listing headed by “file list”:

pr −3dh "file list" file1 file2

Write file1 on file2, expanding tabs to columns 10, 19, 28, 37, ... :

pr −e9 −t <file1 >file2

FILES

/dev/tty∗to suspend messages

SEE ALSO

cat(1), lp(1), ul(1). 

INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT

8- and 16-bit data, 8-bit filenames, messages. 

Hewlett-Packard Company  —  May 11, 2021