version 1.142, 2010/07/26 13:45:49 |
version 1.161, 2010/09/27 11:21:39 |
Line 28 language is used to format |
|
Line 28 language is used to format |
|
.Bx |
.Bx |
.Ux |
.Ux |
manuals. |
manuals. |
In this reference document, we describe its syntax, structure, and |
This reference document describes its syntax, structure, and |
usage. |
usage. |
Our reference implementation is mandoc; the |
The reference implementation is |
|
.Xr mandoc 1 ; |
|
the |
.Sx COMPATIBILITY |
.Sx COMPATIBILITY |
section describes compatibility with other troff \-mdoc implementations. |
section describes compatibility with other troff \-mdoc implementations. |
.Pp |
.Pp |
|
|
A macro line with only a control character and comment escape, |
A macro line with only a control character and comment escape, |
.Sq \&.\e\*q , |
.Sq \&.\e\*q , |
is also ignored. |
is also ignored. |
Macro lines with only a control character and optionally whitespace are |
Macro lines with only a control character and optional whitespace are |
stripped from input. |
stripped from input. |
.Ss Reserved Characters |
.Ss Reserved Characters |
Within a macro line, the following characters are reserved: |
Within a macro line, the following characters are reserved: |
Line 107 for two-character sequences; an open-bracket |
|
Line 109 for two-character sequences; an open-bracket |
|
.Sq \&[ |
.Sq \&[ |
for n-character sequences (terminated at a close-bracket |
for n-character sequences (terminated at a close-bracket |
.Sq \&] ) ; |
.Sq \&] ) ; |
or a single one-character sequence. |
or a single one character sequence. |
See |
See |
.Xr mandoc_char 7 |
.Xr mandoc_char 7 |
for a complete list. |
for a complete list. |
|
|
.Ss Text Decoration |
.Ss Text Decoration |
Terms may be text-decorated using the |
Terms may be text-decorated using the |
.Sq \ef |
.Sq \ef |
escape followed by an indicator: B (bold), I, (italic), R (Roman), or P |
escape followed by an indicator: B (bold), I (italic), R (Roman), or P |
(revert to previous mode): |
(revert to previous mode): |
.Pp |
.Pp |
.D1 \efBbold\efR \efIitalic\efP |
.D1 \efBbold\efR \efIitalic\efP |
|
|
which encourages semantic annotation. |
which encourages semantic annotation. |
.Ss Predefined Strings |
.Ss Predefined Strings |
Historically, |
Historically, |
.Xr groff 1 |
troff |
also defined a set of package-specific |
also defined a set of package-specific |
.Dq predefined strings , |
.Dq predefined strings , |
which, like |
which, like |
|
|
.Pq vertical bar . |
.Pq vertical bar . |
.Ss Whitespace |
.Ss Whitespace |
Whitespace consists of the space character. |
Whitespace consists of the space character. |
In free-form lines, whitespace is preserved within a line; un-escaped |
In free-form lines, whitespace is preserved within a line; unescaped |
trailing spaces are stripped from input (unless in a literal context). |
trailing spaces are stripped from input (unless in a literal context). |
Blank free-form lines, which may include whitespace, are only permitted |
Blank free-form lines, which may include whitespace, are only permitted |
within literal contexts. |
within literal contexts. |
Line 183 If arguments are quoted, whitespace within the quotes |
|
Line 185 If arguments are quoted, whitespace within the quotes |
|
Macro arguments may be quoted with double-quotes to group |
Macro arguments may be quoted with double-quotes to group |
space-delimited terms or to retain blocks of whitespace. |
space-delimited terms or to retain blocks of whitespace. |
A quoted argument begins with a double-quote preceded by whitespace. |
A quoted argument begins with a double-quote preceded by whitespace. |
The next double-quote not pair-wise adjacent to another double-quote |
The next double-quote not pairwise adjacent to another double-quote |
terminates the literal, regardless of surrounding whitespace. |
terminates the literal, regardless of surrounding whitespace. |
.Pp |
.Pp |
Note that any quoted text, even if it would cause a macro invocation |
Note that any quoted text, even if it would cause a macro invocation |
Line 276 is necessarily non-portable across output media. |
|
Line 278 is necessarily non-portable across output media. |
|
See |
See |
.Sx COMPATIBILITY . |
.Sx COMPATIBILITY . |
.Ss Sentence Spacing |
.Ss Sentence Spacing |
When composing a manual, make sure that your sentences end at the end of |
When composing a manual, make sure that sentences end at the end of |
a line. |
a line. |
By doing so, front-ends will be able to apply the proper amount of |
By doing so, front-ends will be able to apply the proper amount of |
spacing after the end of sentence (unescaped) period, exclamation mark, |
spacing after the end of sentence (unescaped) period, exclamation mark, |
|
|
.Sq \&" ) . |
.Sq \&" ) . |
.Pp |
.Pp |
The proper spacing is also intelligently preserved if a sentence ends at |
The proper spacing is also intelligently preserved if a sentence ends at |
the boundary of a macro line, e.g., |
the boundary of a macro line. |
|
For example: |
.Pp |
.Pp |
.D1 \&Xr mandoc 1 \. |
.D1 \&Xr mandoc 1 \. |
.D1 \&Fl T \&Ns \&Cm ascii \. |
.D1 \&Fl T \&Ns \&Cm ascii \. |
|
|
\&.Sh NAME |
\&.Sh NAME |
\&.Nm foo |
\&.Nm foo |
\&.Nd a description goes here |
\&.Nd a description goes here |
\&.\e\*q The next is for sections 2, 3, & 9 only. |
|
\&.\e\*q .Sh LIBRARY |
\&.\e\*q .Sh LIBRARY |
|
\&.\e\*q For sections 2, 3, & 9 only. |
|
\&.\e\*q Not used in OpenBSD. |
\&.Sh SYNOPSIS |
\&.Sh SYNOPSIS |
\&.Nm foo |
\&.Nm foo |
\&.Op Fl options |
\&.Op Fl options |
|
|
\&.Nm |
\&.Nm |
utility processes files ... |
utility processes files ... |
\&.\e\*q .Sh IMPLEMENTATION NOTES |
\&.\e\*q .Sh IMPLEMENTATION NOTES |
\&.\e\*q The next is for sections 2, 3, & 9 only. |
\&.\e\*q Not used in OpenBSD. |
\&.\e\*q .Sh RETURN VALUES |
\&.\e\*q .Sh RETURN VALUES |
\&.\e\*q The next is for sections 1, 6, 7, & 8 only. |
\&.\e\*q For sections 2, 3, & 9 only. |
\&.\e\*q .Sh ENVIRONMENT |
\&.\e\*q .Sh ENVIRONMENT |
|
\&.\e\*q For sections 1, 6, 7, & 8 only. |
\&.\e\*q .Sh FILES |
\&.\e\*q .Sh FILES |
\&.\e\*q The next is for sections 1 & 8 only. |
|
\&.\e\*q .Sh EXIT STATUS |
\&.\e\*q .Sh EXIT STATUS |
|
\&.\e\*q For sections 1, 6, & 8 only. |
\&.\e\*q .Sh EXAMPLES |
\&.\e\*q .Sh EXAMPLES |
\&.\e\*q The next is for sections 1, 4, 6, 7, & 8 only. |
|
\&.\e\*q .Sh DIAGNOSTICS |
\&.\e\*q .Sh DIAGNOSTICS |
\&.\e\*q The next is for sections 2, 3, & 9 only. |
\&.\e\*q For sections 1, 4, 6, 7, & 8 only. |
\&.\e\*q .Sh ERRORS |
\&.\e\*q .Sh ERRORS |
|
\&.\e\*q For sections 2, 3, & 9 only. |
\&.\e\*q .Sh SEE ALSO |
\&.\e\*q .Sh SEE ALSO |
\&.\e\*q .Xr foobar 1 |
\&.\e\*q .Xr foobar 1 |
\&.\e\*q .Sh STANDARDS |
\&.\e\*q .Sh STANDARDS |
Line 359 utility processes files ... |
|
Line 364 utility processes files ... |
|
\&.\e\*q .Sh CAVEATS |
\&.\e\*q .Sh CAVEATS |
\&.\e\*q .Sh BUGS |
\&.\e\*q .Sh BUGS |
\&.\e\*q .Sh SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS |
\&.\e\*q .Sh SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS |
|
\&.\e\*q Not used in OpenBSD. |
.Ed |
.Ed |
.Pp |
.Pp |
The sections in a |
The sections in an |
.Nm |
.Nm |
document are conventionally ordered as they appear above. |
document are conventionally ordered as they appear above. |
Sections should be composed as follows: |
Sections should be composed as follows: |
.Bl -ohang -offset Ds |
.Bl -ohang -offset Ds |
.It Em NAME |
.It Em NAME |
The name(s) and a one-line description of the documented material. |
The name(s) and a one line description of the documented material. |
The syntax for this as follows: |
The syntax for this as follows: |
.Bd -literal -offset indent |
.Bd -literal -offset indent |
\&.Nm name0 |
\&.Nm name0 , |
\&.Nm name1 |
\&.Nm name1 , |
\&.Nm name2 |
\&.Nm name2 |
\&.Nd a one-line description |
\&.Nd a one line description |
.Ed |
.Ed |
.Pp |
.Pp |
The |
The |
Line 415 generally structured as follows: |
|
Line 421 generally structured as follows: |
|
.Pp |
.Pp |
For the second, function calls (sections 2, 3, 9): |
For the second, function calls (sections 2, 3, 9): |
.Bd -literal -offset indent |
.Bd -literal -offset indent |
\&.Vt extern const char *global; |
|
\&.In header.h |
\&.In header.h |
|
\&.Vt extern const char *global; |
\&.Ft "char *" |
\&.Ft "char *" |
\&.Fn foo "const char *src" |
\&.Fn foo "const char *src" |
\&.Ft "char *" |
\&.Ft "char *" |
Line 445 section, particularly |
|
Line 451 section, particularly |
|
and |
and |
.Sx \&Ft . |
.Sx \&Ft . |
All of these macros are output on their own line. |
All of these macros are output on their own line. |
If two such dissimilar macros are pair-wise invoked (except for |
If two such dissimilar macros are pairwise invoked (except for |
.Sx \&Ft |
.Sx \&Ft |
before |
before |
.Sx \&Fo |
.Sx \&Fo |
|
|
.Sx \&Ss |
.Sx \&Ss |
macro or the end of an enclosing block, whichever comes first. |
macro or the end of an enclosing block, whichever comes first. |
.It Em DESCRIPTION |
.It Em DESCRIPTION |
This expands upon the brief, one-line description in |
This expands upon the brief, one line description in |
.Em NAME . |
.Em NAME . |
It usually contains a break-down of the options (if documenting a |
It usually contains a breakdown of the options (if documenting a |
command), such as: |
command), such as: |
.Bd -literal -offset indent |
.Bd -literal -offset indent |
The arguments are as follows: |
The arguments are as follows: |
Line 489 Implementation-specific notes should be kept here. |
|
Line 495 Implementation-specific notes should be kept here. |
|
This is useful when implementing standard functions that may have side |
This is useful when implementing standard functions that may have side |
effects or notable algorithmic implications. |
effects or notable algorithmic implications. |
.It Em RETURN VALUES |
.It Em RETURN VALUES |
This section is the dual of |
This section documents the |
.Em EXIT STATUS , |
return values of functions in sections 2, 3, and 9. |
which is used for commands. |
|
It documents the return values of functions in sections 2, 3, and 9. |
|
.Pp |
.Pp |
See |
See |
.Sx \&Rv . |
.Sx \&Rv . |
Line 513 the file is used (created, modified, etc.). |
|
Line 517 the file is used (created, modified, etc.). |
|
See |
See |
.Sx \&Pa . |
.Sx \&Pa . |
.It Em EXIT STATUS |
.It Em EXIT STATUS |
Command exit status for section 1, 6, and 8 manuals. |
This section documents the |
This section is the dual of |
command exit status for section 1, 6, and 8 utilities. |
.Em RETURN VALUES , |
|
which is used for functions. |
|
Historically, this information was described in |
Historically, this information was described in |
.Em DIAGNOSTICS , |
.Em DIAGNOSTICS , |
a practise that is now discouraged. |
a practise that is now discouraged. |
|
|
.It Em EXAMPLES |
.It Em EXAMPLES |
Example usages. |
Example usages. |
This often contains snippets of well-formed, well-tested invocations. |
This often contains snippets of well-formed, well-tested invocations. |
Make doubly sure that your examples work properly! |
Make sure that examples work properly! |
.It Em DIAGNOSTICS |
.It Em DIAGNOSTICS |
Documents error conditions. |
Documents error conditions. |
This is most useful in section 4 manuals. |
This is most useful in section 4 manuals. |
Line 560 section should be used instead. |
|
Line 562 section should be used instead. |
|
See |
See |
.Sx \&St . |
.Sx \&St . |
.It Em HISTORY |
.It Em HISTORY |
The history of any manual without a |
A brief history of the subject, including where support first appeared. |
.Em STANDARDS |
|
section should be described in this section. |
|
.It Em AUTHORS |
.It Em AUTHORS |
Credits to authors, if applicable, should appear in this section. |
Credits to the person or persons who wrote the code and/or documentation. |
Authors should generally be noted by both name and email address. |
Authors should generally be noted by both name and email address. |
.Pp |
.Pp |
See |
See |
|
|
Common misuses and misunderstandings should be explained |
Common misuses and misunderstandings should be explained |
in this section. |
in this section. |
.It Em BUGS |
.It Em BUGS |
Known bugs, limitations and work-arounds should be described |
Known bugs, limitations, and work-arounds should be described |
in this section. |
in this section. |
.It Em SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS |
.It Em SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS |
Documents any security precautions that operators should consider. |
Documents any security precautions that operators should consider. |
Line 771 If a number (or inequality) of arguments is |
|
Line 771 If a number (or inequality) of arguments is |
|
.Pq n , |
.Pq n , |
then the macro accepts an arbitrary number of arguments. |
then the macro accepts an arbitrary number of arguments. |
.Bd -literal -offset indent |
.Bd -literal -offset indent |
\&.Yo \(lB\-arg \(lBval...\(rB\(rB \(lBargs...\(rB \(lbres...\(rb |
\&.Yo \(lB\-arg \(lBval...\(rB\(rB \(lBargs...\(rB \(lBres...\(rB |
|
|
\&.Yo \(lB\-arg \(lBval...\(rB\(rB \(lBargs...\(rB Yc... |
\&.Yo \(lB\-arg \(lBval...\(rB\(rB \(lBargs...\(rB Yc... |
|
|
Line 879 referring to book titles. |
|
Line 879 referring to book titles. |
|
Publication city or location of an |
Publication city or location of an |
.Sx \&Rs |
.Sx \&Rs |
block. |
block. |
.Pp |
|
.Em Remarks : |
|
this macro is not implemented in |
|
.Xr groff 1 . |
|
.Ss \&%D |
.Ss \&%D |
Publication date of an |
Publication date of an |
.Sx \&Rs |
.Sx \&Rs |
Line 1080 implementations render it poorly. |
|
Line 1076 implementations render it poorly. |
|
Left- and right-justify the block. |
Left- and right-justify the block. |
.It Fl literal |
.It Fl literal |
Do not justify the block at all. |
Do not justify the block at all. |
Preserve white space as it appears in the input. |
Preserve white space and newlines as they appear in the input, including |
|
if it follows a macro. |
.It Fl ragged |
.It Fl ragged |
Only left-justify the block. |
Only left-justify the block. |
.It Fl unfilled |
.It Fl unfilled |
|
|
argument are equivalent, as are |
argument are equivalent, as are |
.Fl symbolic |
.Fl symbolic |
and |
and |
.Cm \&Sy, |
.Cm \&Sy , |
and |
and |
.Fl literal |
.Fl literal |
and |
and |
|
|
.Sx \&Ux . |
.Sx \&Ux . |
.Ss \&Bt |
.Ss \&Bt |
Prints |
Prints |
.Dq is currently in beta test. |
.Dq is currently in beta test . |
.Ss \&Bx |
.Ss \&Bx |
Format the BSD version provided as an argument, or a default value if no |
Format the BSD version provided as an argument, or a default value if no |
argument is provided. |
argument is provided. |
Line 1650 It must be one of |
|
Line 1647 It must be one of |
|
.Ar luna88k , |
.Ar luna88k , |
.Ar mac68k , |
.Ar mac68k , |
.Ar macppc , |
.Ar macppc , |
|
.Ar mips64 , |
.Ar mvme68k , |
.Ar mvme68k , |
.Ar mvme88k , |
.Ar mvme88k , |
.Ar mvmeppc , |
.Ar mvmeppc , |
|
|
and |
and |
.Sx \&Fo . |
.Sx \&Fo . |
.Ss \&Fx |
.Ss \&Fx |
Format the FreeBSD version provided as an argument, or a default value |
Format the |
|
.Fx |
|
version provided as an argument, or a default value |
if no argument is provided. |
if no argument is provided. |
.Pp |
.Pp |
Examples: |
Examples: |
|
|
.D1 \&.Ic alias |
.D1 \&.Ic alias |
.Pp |
.Pp |
Note that using |
Note that using |
.Sx \&Bd No Fl literal |
.Sx \&Bd Fl literal |
or |
or |
.Sx \&D1 |
.Sx \&D1 |
is preferred for displaying code; the |
is preferred for displaying code; the |
Line 2100 Its syntax is as follows: |
|
Line 2100 Its syntax is as follows: |
|
.D1 Pf \. Sx \&Lk Cm uri Op Cm name |
.D1 Pf \. Sx \&Lk Cm uri Op Cm name |
.Pp |
.Pp |
Examples: |
Examples: |
.D1 \&.Lk http://bsd.lv "The BSD.lv Project" |
.D1 \&.Lk http://bsd.lv \*qThe BSD.lv Project\*q |
.D1 \&.Lk http://bsd.lv |
.D1 \&.Lk http://bsd.lv |
.Pp |
.Pp |
See also |
See also |
Line 2128 Its syntax is as follows: |
|
Line 2128 Its syntax is as follows: |
|
Examples: |
Examples: |
.D1 \&.Mt discuss@manpages.bsd.lv |
.D1 \&.Mt discuss@manpages.bsd.lv |
.Ss \&Nd |
.Ss \&Nd |
A one-line description of the manual's content. |
A one line description of the manual's content. |
This may only be invoked in the |
This may only be invoked in the |
.Em SYNOPSIS |
.Em SYNOPSIS |
section subsequent the |
section subsequent the |
|
|
and |
and |
.Sx \&Sm . |
.Sx \&Sm . |
.Ss \&Nx |
.Ss \&Nx |
Format the NetBSD version provided as an argument, or a default value if |
Format the |
|
.Nx |
|
version provided as an argument, or a default value if |
no argument is provided. |
no argument is provided. |
.Pp |
.Pp |
Examples: |
Examples: |
|
|
file. |
file. |
Its syntax is as follows: |
Its syntax is as follows: |
.Pp |
.Pp |
.D1 Pf \. Sx \&Os Op Cm system |
.D1 Pf \. Sx \&Os Op Cm system Op Cm version |
.Pp |
.Pp |
The optional |
The optional |
.Cm system |
.Cm system |
|
|
.Em Remarks : |
.Em Remarks : |
this macro has been deprecated. |
this macro has been deprecated. |
.Ss \&Ox |
.Ss \&Ox |
Format the OpenBSD version provided as an argument, or a default value |
Format the |
|
.Ox |
|
version provided as an argument, or a default value |
if no argument is provided. |
if no argument is provided. |
.Pp |
.Pp |
Examples: |
Examples: |
|
|
.D1 \&.Tn IBM |
.D1 \&.Tn IBM |
.Ss \&Ud |
.Ss \&Ud |
Prints out |
Prints out |
.Dq currently under development. |
.Dq currently under development . |
.Ss \&Ux |
.Ss \&Ux |
Format the UNIX name. |
Format the UNIX name. |
Accepts no argument. |
Accepts no argument. |
Line 2673 is followed by non-punctuation, an |
|
Line 2677 is followed by non-punctuation, an |
|
.Sx \&Ns |
.Sx \&Ns |
is inserted into the token stream. |
is inserted into the token stream. |
This behaviour is for compatibility with |
This behaviour is for compatibility with |
.Xr groff 1 . |
GNU troff. |
.Pp |
.Pp |
Examples: |
Examples: |
.D1 \&.Xr mandoc 1 |
.D1 \&.Xr mandoc 1 |
|
|
Heirloom troff, the other significant troff implementation accepting |
Heirloom troff, the other significant troff implementation accepting |
\-mdoc, is similar to historic groff. |
\-mdoc, is similar to historic groff. |
.Pp |
.Pp |
|
The following problematic behaviour is found in groff: |
|
.ds hist (Historic groff only.) |
|
.Pp |
.Bl -dash -compact |
.Bl -dash -compact |
.It |
.It |
An empty |
.Sx \&At |
.Sq \&Dd |
with unknown arguments produces no output at all. |
macro in groff prints |
\*[hist] |
|
Newer groff and mandoc print |
|
.Qq AT&T UNIX |
|
and the arguments. |
|
.It |
|
.Sx \&Bd Fl column |
|
does not recognize trailing punctuation characters when they immediately |
|
precede tabulator characters, but treats them as normal text and |
|
outputs a space before them. |
|
.It |
|
.Sx \&Bd Fl ragged compact |
|
does not start a new line. |
|
\*[hist] |
|
.It |
|
.Sx \&Dd |
|
without an argument prints |
.Dq Epoch . |
.Dq Epoch . |
In mandoc, it resolves to the current date. |
In mandoc, it resolves to the current date. |
.It |
.It |
The \es (font size), \em (font colour), and \eM (font filling colour) |
.Sx \&Fl |
font decoration escapes are all discarded in mandoc. |
does not print a dash for an empty argument. |
|
\*[hist] |
.It |
.It |
Old groff fails to assert a newline before |
.Sx \&Fn |
.Sx \&Bd Fl ragged compact . |
does not start a new line unless invoked as the line macro in the |
|
.Em SYNOPSIS |
|
section. |
|
\*[hist] |
.It |
.It |
groff behaves inconsistently when encountering |
|
.Pf non- Sx \&Fa |
|
children of |
|
.Sx \&Fo |
.Sx \&Fo |
regarding spacing between arguments. |
with |
In mandoc, this is not the case: each argument is consistently followed |
.Pf non- Sx \&Fa |
by a single space and the trailing |
children causes inconsistent spacing between arguments. |
.Sq \&) |
In mandoc, a single space is always inserted between arguments. |
suppresses prior spacing. |
|
.It |
.It |
groff behaves inconsistently when encountering |
|
.Sx \&Ft |
.Sx \&Ft |
and |
|
.Sx \&Fn |
|
in the |
in the |
.Em SYNOPSIS : |
.Em SYNOPSIS |
at times newline(s) are suppressed depending on whether a prior |
causes inconsistent vertical spacing, depending on whether a prior |
.Sx \&Fn |
.Sx \&Fn |
has been invoked. |
has been invoked. |
In mandoc, this is not the case. |
|
See |
See |
.Sx \&Ft |
.Sx \&Ft |
and |
and |
.Sx \&Fn |
.Sx \&Fn |
for the normalised behaviour. |
for the normalised behaviour in mandoc. |
.It |
.It |
Historic groff does not break before an |
|
.Sx \&Fn |
|
when not invoked as the line macro in the |
|
.Em SYNOPSIS |
|
section. |
|
.It |
|
Historic groff formats the |
|
.Sx \&In |
.Sx \&In |
badly: trailing arguments are trashed and |
ignores additional arguments and is not treated specially in the |
.Em SYNOPSIS |
.Em SYNOPSIS . |
is not specially treated. |
\*[hist] |
.It |
.It |
groff does not accept the |
.Sx \&It |
.Sq \&Ta |
sometimes requires a |
pseudo-macro as a line macro. |
.Fl nested |
mandoc does. |
flag. |
|
\*[hist] |
|
In new groff and mandoc, any list may be nested by default and |
|
.Fl enum |
|
lists will restart the sequence only for the sub-list. |
.It |
.It |
The comment syntax |
.Sx \&Li |
.Sq \e\." |
followed by a reserved character is incorrectly used in some manuals |
is no longer accepted. |
instead of properly quoting that character, which sometimes works with |
|
historic groff. |
.It |
.It |
In groff, the |
.Sx \&Lk |
|
only accepts a single link-name argument; the remainder is misformatted. |
|
.It |
.Sx \&Pa |
.Sx \&Pa |
macro does not format its arguments when used in the FILES section under |
does not format its arguments when used in the FILES section under |
certain list types. |
certain list types. |
mandoc does. |
|
.It |
.It |
Historic groff does not print a dash for empty |
.Sx \&Ta |
.Sx \&Fl |
can only be called by other macros, but not at the beginning of a line. |
arguments. |
|
mandoc and newer groff implementations do. |
|
.It |
.It |
groff behaves irregularly when specifying |
.Sx \&%C |
|
is not implemented. |
|
.It |
|
Historic groff has many un-callable macros. |
|
Most of these (excluding some block-level macros) are callable |
|
in new groff and mandoc. |
|
.It |
|
.Sq \(ba |
|
(vertical bar) is not fully supported as a delimiter. |
|
\*[hist] |
|
.It |
.Sq \ef |
.Sq \ef |
|
.Pq font face |
|
and |
|
.Sq \ef |
|
.Pq font family face |
.Sx Text Decoration |
.Sx Text Decoration |
within line-macro scopes. |
escapes behave irregularly when specified within line-macro scopes. |
mandoc follows a consistent system. |
|
.It |
.It |
In mandoc, negative scaling units are truncated to zero; groff would |
Negative scaling units return to prior lines. |
move to prior lines. |
Instead, mandoc truncates them to zero. |
Furthermore, the |
.El |
.Sq f |
.Pp |
scaling unit, while accepted, is rendered as the default unit. |
The following features are unimplemented in mandoc: |
|
.Pp |
|
.Bl -dash -compact |
.It |
.It |
In quoted literals, groff allowed pair-wise double-quotes to produce a |
.Sx \&Bd |
standalone double-quote in formatted output. |
.Fl file Ar file . |
This idiosyncratic behaviour is not applicable in mandoc. |
|
.It |
.It |
Display offsets |
|
.Sx \&Bd |
.Sx \&Bd |
.Fl offset Ar center |
.Fl offset Ar center |
and |
and |
.Fl offset Ar right |
.Fl offset Ar right . |
are disregarded in mandoc. |
Groff does not implement centered and flush-right rendering either, |
Furthermore, troff specifies a |
but produces large indentations. |
.Fl file Ar file |
|
argument that is not supported in mandoc. |
|
Lastly, since text is not right-justified in mandoc (or even groff), |
|
.Fl ragged |
|
and |
|
.Fl filled |
|
are aliases, as are |
|
.Fl literal |
|
and |
|
.Fl unfilled . |
|
.It |
.It |
Historic groff has many un-callable macros. |
The |
Most of these (excluding some block-level macros) are now callable. |
.Sq \eh |
.It |
.Pq horizontal position , |
The vertical bar |
.Sq \ev |
.Sq \(ba |
.Pq vertical position , |
made historic groff |
.Sq \em |
.Qq go orbital |
.Pq text colour , |
but has been a proper delimiter since then. |
.Sq \eM |
.It |
.Pq text filling colour , |
.Sx \&It Fl nested |
.Sq \ez |
is assumed for all lists (it wasn't in historic groff): any list may be |
.Pq zero-length character , |
nested and |
.Sq \ew |
.Fl enum |
.Pq string length , |
lists will restart the sequence only for the sub-list. |
.Sq \ek |
.It |
.Pq horizontal position marker , |
Some manuals use |
.Sq \eo |
.Sx \&Li |
.Pq text overstrike , |
incorrectly by following it with a reserved character and expecting the |
|
delimiter to render. |
|
This is not supported in mandoc. |
|
.It |
|
In groff, the |
|
.Sx \&Cd , |
|
.Sx \&Er , |
|
.Sx \&Ex , |
|
and |
and |
.Sx \&Rv |
.Sq \es |
macros were stipulated only to occur in certain manual sections. |
.Pq text size |
mandoc does not have these restrictions. |
escape sequences are all discarded in mandoc. |
.It |
.It |
Newer groff and mandoc print |
The |
.Qq AT&T UNIX |
.Sq \ef |
prior to unknown arguments of |
scaling unit is accepted by mandoc, but rendered as the default unit. |
.Sx \&At ; |
.It |
older groff did nothing. |
In quoted literals, groff allows pairwise double-quotes to produce a |
|
standalone double-quote in formatted output. |
|
This is not supported by mandoc. |
.El |
.El |
.Sh SEE ALSO |
.Sh SEE ALSO |
|
.Xr man 1 , |
.Xr mandoc 1 , |
.Xr mandoc 1 , |
.Xr mandoc_char 7 |
.Xr mandoc_char 7 |
|
.Sh HISTORY |
|
The |
|
.Nm |
|
language first appeared as a troff macro package in |
|
.Bx 4.4 . |
|
It was later significantly updated by Werner Lemberg and Ruslan Ermilov |
|
in groff-1.17. |
|
The standalone implementation that is part of the |
|
.Xr mandoc 1 |
|
utility written by Kristaps Dzonsons appeared in |
|
.Ox 4.6 . |
.Sh AUTHORS |
.Sh AUTHORS |
The |
The |
.Nm |
.Nm |