TBL(CT) XENIX System V TBL(CT)
Name
tbl - Formats tables for nroff or troff.
Syntax
tbl [ -TX ] [ files ]
Description
tbl is a preprocessor that formats tables for nroff(CT) or
troff(CT). The input files are copied to the standard
output, except for lines between .TS and .TE command lines,
which are assumed to describe tables and are reformatted by
tbl. (The .TS and .TE command lines are not altered by
tbl).
.TS is followed by global options. The available global
options are:
center Centers the table (default is left-adjust)
expand Makes the table as wide as the current line
length
box Encloses the table in a box
doublebox Encloses the table in a double box
allbox Encloses each item of the table in a box;
tab (x) Uses the character x instead of a tab to
separate items in a line of input data.
The global options, if any, are terminated with a semicolon
(;).
Next come lines describing the format of each line of the
table. Each such format line describes one line of the
actual table, except that the last format line (which must
end with a period) describes all remaining lines of the
actual table. Each column of each line of the table is
described by a single keyletter, optionally followed by
specifiers that determine the font and point size of the
corresponding item, indicate where vertical bars are to
appear between columns, and determine parameters such as
column width and intercolumn spacing. The available
keyletters are:
c Centers item within the column
r Right-adjusts item within the column
l Left-adjusts item within the column
n Numerically adjusts item in the column: unit
positions of numbers are aligned vertically;
s Spans previous item on the left into this column
a Centers longest line in this column and then
left-adjusts all other lines in this column with
respect to that centered line
^ Spans down previous entry in this column
_ Replaces this entry with a horizontal line
Page 1 (printed 8/7/87)
TBL(CT) XENIX System V TBL(CT)
= Replaces this entry with a double horizontal line
The characters B and I stand for the bold and italic fonts,
respectively; the character | indicates a vertical line
between columns.
The format lines are followed by lines containing the actual
data for the table, followed finally by .TE. Within such
data lines, data items are normally separated by tab
characters.
If a data line consists of only an underscore (_) or an
equals sign occurs, then a single or double line,
respectively, is drawn across the table at that point. If a
single item in a data line consists of only an underscore or
equals sign then that item is replaced by a single or double
line.
Full details of all these and other features of tbl are
given in the XENIX Text Processing Guide.
The -TX option forces tbl to use only full vertical line
motions, making the output more suitable for devices that
cannot generate partial vertical line motions, such as
lineprinters.
If no filenames are given as arguments, tbl reads the
standard input, so it may be used as a filter. When it is
used with eqn(CT) or neqn(CT), tbl should come first to
minimize the volume of data passed through pipes.
Example
If we let O represent a tab (which should be typed as a
genuine tab), then the input:
.TS
center box ;
cB s s
cI | cI s
| c c
l | n n .
Household Population
_
TownOHouseholds
ONumberOSize
=
BedminsterO789O3.26
Bernards Twp.O3087O3.74
BernardsvilleO2018O3.30
Bound BrookO3425O3.04
BridgewaterO7897O3.81
Far HillsO240O3.19
Page 2 (printed 8/7/87)
TBL(CT) XENIX System V TBL(CT)
.TE
yields:
_______________________________
| Household Population |
|______________|_______________|
| | Households |
| Town | Number Size|
|______________|_______________|
| Bedminster | 789 3.26|
| Bernards Twp.| 3087 3.74|
| Bernardsville| 2018 3.30|
| Bound Brook | 3425 3.04|
| Bridgewater | 7897 3.81|
| Far Hills | 240 3.19|
|______________|_______________|
See Also
XENIX Text Processing Guide
eqn(CT), mm(CT), mmt(CT), troff(CT)
Notes
See also Notes under troff(CT).
Page 3 (printed 8/7/87)