TBL(1)              UNIX Programmer's Manual               TBL(1)

NAME
     tbl - format tables for nroff or troff

SYNOPSIS
     tbl [ files ] ...

DESCRIPTION
     _T_b_l is a preprocessor for formatting tables for _n_r_o_f_f or
     _t_r_o_f_f(1).  The input files are copied to the standard out-
     put, except for lines between .TS and .TE command lines,
     which are assumed to describe tables and reformatted.
     Details are given in the reference manual.

     As an example, letting \t represent a tab (which should be
     typed as a genuine tab) the input

          .TS
          c s s
          c c s
          c c c
          l n n.
          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
          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, _t_b_l reads the standard input, so
     it may be used as a filter.  When it is used with _e_q_n or
     _n_e_q_n the _t_b_l command should be first, to minimize the volume
     of data passed through pipes.

Printed 5/16/83                                                 1

TBL(1)              UNIX Programmer's Manual               TBL(1)

SEE ALSO
     eqn(1), troff(1)
     M. E. Lesk, _T_B_L: _A _P_r_o_g_r_a_m _t_o _F_o_r_m_a_t _T_a_b_l_e_s.

Printed 5/16/83                                                 2