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TBL
!!!TBL
NAME
SYNOPSIS
DESCRIPTION
OPTIONS
USAGE
BUGS
SEE ALSO
----
!!NAME


tbl - format tables for troff
!!SYNOPSIS


__tbl__ [[ __-Cv__ ] [[ ''files''... ]
!!DESCRIPTION


This manual page describes the GNU version of __tbl__,
which is part of the groff document formatting system.
__tbl__ compiles descriptions of tables embedded within
__troff__ input files into commands that are understood
by __troff__. Normally, it should be invoked using the
__-t__ option of __groff.__ It is highly compatible
with Unix __tbl__. The output generated by GNU __tbl__
cannot be processed with Unix __troff__; it must be
processed with GNU __troff__. If no files are given on
the command line, the standard input will be read. A
filename of __-__ will cause the standard input to be
read.
!!OPTIONS


__-C__


Recognize __.TS__ and __.TE__ even when followed by a
character other than space or newline.


__-v__


Print the version number.
!!USAGE


Only the differences between GNU __tbl__ and Unix
__tbl__ are described here.


Normally __tbl__ attempts to prevent undesirable breaks
in the table by using diversions. This can sometimes
interact badly with macro packages' own use of diversions,
when footnotes, for example, are used. The __nokeep__
option tells __tbl__ not to try and prevent breaks in
this way.


The __decimalpoint__ option specifies the character to be
recognized as the decimal point character in place of the
default period. It takes an argument in parentheses, which
must be a single character, as for the __tab__
option.


The __f__ format modifier can be followed by an arbitrary
length font name in parentheses.


There is a __d__ format modifier which means that a
vertically spanning entry should be aligned at the bottom of
its range.


There is no limit on the number of columns in a table, nor
any limit on the number of text blocks. All the lines of a
table are considered in deciding column widths, not just the
first 200. Table continuation (__.T__) lines are not
restricted to the first 200 lines.


Numeric and alphabetic items may appear in the same
column.


Numeric and alphabetic items may span
horizontally.


__tbl__ uses register, string, macro and diversion names
beginning with __3__. When using __tbl__ you should
avoid using any names beginning with a
__3__.
!!BUGS


You should use __.TS H__/__.TH__ in conjunction with a
supporting macro package for ''all'' multi-page boxed
tables. If there is no header that you wish to appear at the
top of each page of the table, place the __.TH__ line
immediately after the format section. Do not enclose a
multi-page table within keep/release macros, or divert it in
any other way.


A text block within a table must be able to fit on one
page.


The __bp__ request cannot be used to force a page-break
in a multi-page table. Instead, define __BP__ as
follows


__.de BP
.ie '\n(.z'' .bp \$1
.el !.BP \$1
..__


and use __BP__ instead of __bp__.


Using a directly in a table to get leaders will not work.
This is correct behaviour: a is a __uninterpreted__
leader. To get leaders use a real leader, either by using a
control A or like this:


__.ds a a
.TS
tab(;);
lw(1i) l.
A*a;B
.TE
__
!!SEE ALSO


groff(1), troff(1)
----
12 pages link to tbl(1):
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Last edited on Tuesday, June 4, 2002 12:22:55 am by "perry"
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