version 1.19, 2009/07/14 15:56:44 |
version 1.20, 2009/07/20 13:45:11 |
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.Sh DESCRIPTION |
.Sh DESCRIPTION |
The |
The |
.Nm man |
.Nm man |
language was historically used to format |
language was historically used to format |
.Ux |
.Ux |
manuals. This reference document describes its syntax, structure, and |
manuals. This reference document describes its syntax, structure, and |
usage. |
usage. |
.Pp |
.Pp |
.Bf Em |
.Bf -emphasis |
Do not use |
Do not use |
.Nm |
.Nm |
to write your manuals. |
to write your manuals. |
.Ef |
.Ef |
Use the |
Use the |
.Xr mdoc 7 |
.Xr mdoc 7 |
Line 43 language, instead. |
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Line 43 language, instead. |
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An |
An |
.Nm |
.Nm |
document follows simple rules: lines beginning with the control |
document follows simple rules: lines beginning with the control |
character |
character |
.Sq \&. |
.Sq \&. |
are parsed for macros. Other lines are interpreted within the scope of |
are parsed for macros. Other lines are interpreted within the scope of |
prior macros: |
prior macros: |
Line 57 Other lines are interpreted within the current state. |
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Line 57 Other lines are interpreted within the current state. |
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documents may contain only graphable 7-bit ASCII characters, the |
documents may contain only graphable 7-bit ASCII characters, the |
space character, and the tabs character. All manuals must have |
space character, and the tabs character. All manuals must have |
.Ux |
.Ux |
line termination. |
line termination. |
.Pp |
.Pp |
Blank lines are acceptable; where found, the output will assert a |
Blank lines are acceptable; where found, the output will assert a |
vertical space. |
vertical space. |
Line 71 subsequent word isn't off-set by whitespace. |
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Line 71 subsequent word isn't off-set by whitespace. |
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.\" SUB-SECTION |
.\" SUB-SECTION |
.Ss Comments |
.Ss Comments |
Anything following a |
Anything following a |
.Sq \e" |
.Sq \e" |
delimiter is considered a comment (unless the |
delimiter is considered a comment (unless the |
.Sq \e |
.Sq \e |
itself has been escaped) and is ignored to the end of line. |
itself has been escaped) and is ignored to the end of line. |
Furthermore, a macro line with only a control character |
Furthermore, a macro line with only a control character |
Line 82 optionally followed by whitespace, is ignored. |
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Line 82 optionally followed by whitespace, is ignored. |
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.Ss Special Characters |
.Ss Special Characters |
Special character sequences begin with the escape character |
Special character sequences begin with the escape character |
.Sq \e |
.Sq \e |
followed by either an open-parenthesis |
followed by either an open-parenthesis |
.Sq \&( |
.Sq \&( |
for two-character sequences; an open-bracket |
for two-character sequences; an open-bracket |
.Sq \&[ |
.Sq \&[ |
Line 114 macro describing the document's section and title. It |
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Line 114 macro describing the document's section and title. It |
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anywhere in the document, although conventionally, it appears as the |
anywhere in the document, although conventionally, it appears as the |
first macro. |
first macro. |
.Pp |
.Pp |
Beyond the |
Beyond the |
.Sq \&.TH , |
.Sq \&.TH , |
at least one macro or text node must appear in the document. |
at least one macro or text node must appear in the document. |
.\" SECTION |
.\" SECTION |
|
|
.Sq \&.\ \ \ \&PP |
.Sq \&.\ \ \ \&PP |
are equivalent. |
are equivalent. |
.Pp |
.Pp |
All |
All |
.Nm |
.Nm |
macros follow the same structural rules: |
macros follow the same structural rules: |
.Bd -literal -offset indent |
.Bd -literal -offset indent |
\&.YO \(lBbody...\(rB |
\&.YO \(lBbody...\(rB |
.Ed |
.Ed |
.Pp |
.Pp |
The |
The |
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|
consists of zero or more arguments to the macro. |
consists of zero or more arguments to the macro. |
.Pp |
.Pp |
.Nm |
.Nm |
has a primitive notion of multi-line scope for the following macros: |
has a primitive notion of multi-line scope for the following macros: |
.Sq \&.TM , |
.Sq \&.TM , |
.Sq \&.SM , |
.Sq \&.SM , |
.Sq \&.SB , |
.Sq \&.SB , |
Line 152 has a primitive notion of multi-line scope for the fol |
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Line 152 has a primitive notion of multi-line scope for the fol |
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.Sq \&.R , |
.Sq \&.R , |
.Sq \&.B , |
.Sq \&.B , |
.Sq \&.I , |
.Sq \&.I , |
.Sq \&.IR |
.Sq \&.IR |
and |
and |
.Sq \&.RI . |
.Sq \&.RI . |
When these macros are invoked without arguments, the subsequent line is |
When these macros are invoked without arguments, the subsequent line is |
considered a continuation of the macro. Thus: |
considered a continuation of the macro. Thus: |
.Bd -literal -offset indent |
.Bd -literal -offset indent |
\&.RI |
\&.RI |
foo |
foo |
.Ed |
.Ed |
.Pp |
.Pp |
is equivalent to |
is equivalent to |
.Sq \&.RI foo . |
.Sq \&.RI foo . |
If two consecutive lines exhibit the latter behaviour, |
If two consecutive lines exhibit the latter behaviour, |
an error is raised. Thus, the following is not acceptable: |
an error is raised. Thus, the following is not acceptable: |
.Bd -literal -offset indent |
.Bd -literal -offset indent |
\&.RI |
\&.RI |
\&.I |
\&.I |
Hello, world. |
Hello, world. |
.Ed |
.Ed |
.Pp |
.Pp |
Line 178 macro is similar, but does not need an empty argument |
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Line 178 macro is similar, but does not need an empty argument |
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the behaviour. |
the behaviour. |
.\" SECTION |
.\" SECTION |
.Sh MACROS |
.Sh MACROS |
This section contains a complete list of all |
This section contains a complete list of all |
.Nm |
.Nm |
macros and corresponding number of arguments. |
macros and corresponding number of arguments. |
.Pp |
.Pp |
Line 232 for groff compatibility notes. |
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Line 232 for groff compatibility notes. |
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.Sh AUTHORS |
.Sh AUTHORS |
The |
The |
.Nm |
.Nm |
utility was written by |
utility was written by |
.An Kristaps Dzonsons Aq kristaps@kth.se . |
.An Kristaps Dzonsons Aq kristaps@kth.se . |
.\" SECTION |
.\" SECTION |
.Sh CAVEATS |
.Sh CAVEATS |