3 tbl \- format tables for nroff or troff
11 is a preprocessor for formatting tables for
17 are copied to the standard output,
18 except for segments of the form
35 requests to lay out the tables.
36 If no arguments are given,
38 reads the standard input.
42 line is terminated by a semicolon and contains one or more
48 center the table; default is left-adjust
51 make table as wide as current line length
56 enclose the table in a box or double box
59 enclose every item in a box
64 to separate input items; default is tab
82 Each line, except the last, of the obligatory
84 describes one row of the table.
85 The last line describes all rows until the next
87 where the format changes,
88 or the end of the table at
90 A format is specified by key letters, one per column, either upper or lower case:
94 Left justify: the default for
95 columns without format keys.
105 Numeric: align at decimal point (inferred for integers) or at
109 Span: extend previous column across this one.
112 Alphabetic: left-aligned within column, widest item centered, indented relative to
117 Vertical span: continue item from previous row into this row.
120 Draw a horizontal rule in this column.
123 Draw a double horizontal rule in this column.
127 Key letters may be followed by modifiers, also either case:
129 .TP \w'\fLF\fIfont\fLXX'u
131 Draw vertical rule between columns.
135 Draw a double vertical rule between columns.
138 Gap between column is
155 Begin vertically-spanned item at top row of range; default is
156 vertical centering (with
166 vertical spacing in text block; signed
168 means relative change.
174 Parens are optional if
179 Equalize the widths of all columns marked
186 becomes one row of the table; tabs separate items.
192 Certain special data items are recognized:
196 Draw a horizontal rule in this column.
200 Draw a double horizontal rule in this column.
201 A data line consisting of a single
205 draws the rule across the whole table.
208 Draw a rule only as wide as the contents of the column.
216 Span the previous item in this column down into this row.
219 The item is a text block to be separately formatted
222 and placed in the table.
223 The block continues to the next line beginning with
225 The remainder of the data line follows at that point.
229 When it is used in a pipeline with
233 command should be first, to minimize the volume
234 of data passed through
239 represent a tab (which should
240 be typed as a genuine tab).
251 Bedminster\*(tb789\*(tb3.26
252 Bernards Twp.\*(tb3087\*(tb3.74
253 Bernardsville\*(tb2018\*(tb3.30
268 Bernards Twp. 3087 3.74
269 Bernardsville 2018 3.30
281 M. E. Lesk and L. L. Cherry,
282 ``TBL\(ema Program to Format Tables'',
284 Unix Research System Programmer's Manual,
285 Tenth Edition, Volume 2.