NAME
tbl - format tables for nroff or troff
SYNOPSIS
tbl [ files ] ...
DESCRIPTION
Tbl is an nroff (I) or troff(I) preprocessor for formatting
tables. 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 reformatted. The first
line after .TS specifies the various columns: it consists of
a list of column describers separated by blanks or tabs.
Each column describer is a character string made up of the
letters `n', `r', `c', `l' and `s', which mean:
c center within the column
r right-adjust
l left-adjust
n numerical adjustment: the units digits of numbers are
aligned.
s span the previous entry over this column.
The column describer may be followed by an integer giving
the number of spaces between this column and the next; 3 is
default. The describer `ccr5' indicates that the first two
lines in this column are centered; the third and remaining
lines are right-adjusted; and the column should be separated
from the column to the right by 5 spaces. Letting \t repre-
sent a tab (which must be typed as a genuine tab) the input
.TS
cccl sccn sscn
Household Population
Town\tHouseholds
\tNumber\tSize
Bedminster\t789\t3.26
Bernards Twp.\t3087\t3.74
Bernardsville\t2018\t3.30
Bound Brook\t3425\t3.04
Branchburg\t1644\t3.49
Bridgewater\t7897\t3.81
Far Hills\t240\t3.19
.TE
yields
Household Population
Town Households
Number Size
1
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
If no arguments are given, tbl reads the standard input, so
it may be used as a filter. When it is used with eqn or
neqn the tbl command should be first, to minimize the volume
of data passed through pipes.
BUGS
No column describer may end with `s'.
2