{ "content": [ { "type": "text", "text": "# pr(1) (man)\n\n**Summary:** pr - convert text files for printing\n\n**Synopsis:** pr [OPTION]... [FILE]...\n\n## Flags\n\n| Flag | Long | Arg | Description |\n|------|------|-----|-------------|\n| — | --columns | — | output COLUMN columns and print columns down, unless -a is used. Balance number of lines in the columns on each page |\n| -a | --across | — | print columns across rather than down, used together with -COLUMN |\n| -c | --show-control-chars | — | use hat notation (^G) and octal backslash notation |\n| -d | --double-space | — | double space the output |\n| -D | --date-format | — | use FORMAT for the header date |\n| — | --expand-tabs | — | expand input CHARs (TABs) to tab WIDTH (8) |\n| -f | --form-feed | — | use form feeds instead of newlines to separate pages (by a 3-line page header with -F or a 5-line header and trailer wit |\n| -h | --header | — | use a centered HEADER instead of filename in page header, -h \"\" prints a blank line, don't use -h\"\" |\n| — | --output-tabs | — | replace spaces with CHARs (TABs) to tab WIDTH (8) |\n| -J | --join-lines | — | merge full lines, turns off -W line truncation, no column alignment, --sep-string[=STRING] sets separators |\n| -l | --length | — | set the page length to PAGELENGTH (66) lines (default number of lines of text 56, and with -F 63). implies -t if PAGELEN |\n| -m | --merge | — | print all files in parallel, one in each column, truncate lines, but join lines of full length with -J |\n| — | --number-lines | — | number lines, use DIGITS (5) digits, then SEP (TAB), default counting starts with 1st line of input file |\n| -N | --first-line-number | — | start counting with NUMBER at 1st line of first page printed (see +FIRSTPAGE) |\n| -o | --indent | — | offset each line with MARGIN (zero) spaces, do not affect -w or -W, MARGIN will be added to PAGEWIDTH |\n| -r | --no-file-warnings | — | omit warning when a file cannot be opened |\n| — | --separator | — | separate columns by a single character, default for CHAR is the character with‐ out -w and 'no char' with -w. -s[C |\n| — | --sep-string | — | separate columns by STRING, without -S: Default separator with -J and otherwise (same as -S\" \"), no effect |\n| -t | --omit-header | — | omit page headers and trailers; implied if PAGELENGTH <= 10 |\n| -T | --omit-pagination | — | omit page headers and trailers, eliminate any pagination by form feeds set in input files |\n| -v | --show-nonprinting | — | use octal backslash notation |\n| -w | --width | — | set page width to PAGEWIDTH (72) characters for multiple text-column output only, -s[char] turns off (72) |\n| -W | --page-width | — | set page width to PAGEWIDTH (72) characters always, truncate lines, except -J option is set, no interference with -S or |\n| — | --version | — | output version information and exit |\n\n## Section Outline\n\n- **NAME** (2 lines)\n- **SYNOPSIS** (2 lines)\n- **DESCRIPTION** (9 lines) — 24 subsections\n - -COLUMN --columns (3 lines)\n - -a --across (2 lines)\n - -c --show-control-chars (2 lines)\n - -d --double-space (2 lines)\n - -D --date-format (2 lines)\n - -e[CHAR[WIDTH]] --expand-tabs (2 lines)\n - -F -f --form-feed (3 lines)\n - -h --header (3 lines)\n - -i[CHAR[WIDTH]] --output-tabs (2 lines)\n - -J --join-lines (3 lines)\n - -l --length (3 lines)\n - -m --merge (3 lines)\n - -n[SEP[DIGITS]] --number-lines (3 lines)\n - -N --first-line-number (2 lines)\n - -o --indent (3 lines)\n - -r --no-file-warnings (2 lines)\n - -s[CHAR] --separator (4 lines)\n - -S[STRING] --sep-string (3 lines)\n - -t --omit-header (2 lines)\n - -T --omit-pagination (3 lines)\n - -v --show-nonprinting (2 lines)\n - -w --width (3 lines)\n - -W --page-width (5 lines)\n - --version (2 lines)\n- **AUTHOR** (2 lines)\n- **REPORTING BUGS** (3 lines)\n- **COPYRIGHT** (5 lines)\n- **SEE ALSO** (6 lines)\n\n## Full Content\n\n### NAME\n\npr - convert text files for printing\n\n### SYNOPSIS\n\npr [OPTION]... [FILE]...\n\n### DESCRIPTION\n\nPaginate or columnate FILE(s) for printing.\n\nWith no FILE, or when FILE is -, read standard input.\n\nMandatory arguments to long options are mandatory for short options too.\n\n+FIRSTPAGE[:LASTPAGE], --pages=FIRSTPAGE[:LASTPAGE]\nbegin [stop] printing with page FIRST[LAST]PAGE\n\n#### -COLUMN --columns\n\noutput COLUMN columns and print columns down, unless -a is used. Balance number of\nlines in the columns on each page\n\n#### -a --across\n\nprint columns across rather than down, used together with -COLUMN\n\n#### -c --show-control-chars\n\nuse hat notation (^G) and octal backslash notation\n\n#### -d --double-space\n\ndouble space the output\n\n#### -D --date-format\n\nuse FORMAT for the header date\n\n#### -e[CHAR[WIDTH]] --expand-tabs\n\nexpand input CHARs (TABs) to tab WIDTH (8)\n\n#### -F -f --form-feed\n\nuse form feeds instead of newlines to separate pages (by a 3-line page header with -F\nor a 5-line header and trailer without -F)\n\n#### -h --header\n\nuse a centered HEADER instead of filename in page header, -h \"\" prints a blank line,\ndon't use -h\"\"\n\n#### -i[CHAR[WIDTH]] --output-tabs\n\nreplace spaces with CHARs (TABs) to tab WIDTH (8)\n\n#### -J --join-lines\n\nmerge full lines, turns off -W line truncation, no column alignment,\n--sep-string[=STRING] sets separators\n\n#### -l --length\n\nset the page length to PAGELENGTH (66) lines (default number of lines of text 56, and\nwith -F 63). implies -t if PAGELENGTH <= 10\n\n#### -m --merge\n\nprint all files in parallel, one in each column, truncate lines, but join lines of\nfull length with -J\n\n#### -n[SEP[DIGITS]] --number-lines\n\nnumber lines, use DIGITS (5) digits, then SEP (TAB), default counting starts with 1st\nline of input file\n\n#### -N --first-line-number\n\nstart counting with NUMBER at 1st line of first page printed (see +FIRSTPAGE)\n\n#### -o --indent\n\noffset each line with MARGIN (zero) spaces, do not affect -w or -W, MARGIN will be\nadded to PAGEWIDTH\n\n#### -r --no-file-warnings\n\nomit warning when a file cannot be opened\n\n#### -s[CHAR] --separator\n\nseparate columns by a single character, default for CHAR is the character with‐\nout -w and 'no char' with -w. -s[CHAR] turns off line truncation of all 3 column op‐\ntions (-COLUMN|-a -COLUMN|-m) except -w is set\n\n#### -S[STRING] --sep-string\n\nseparate columns by STRING, without -S: Default separator with -J and \notherwise (same as -S\" \"), no effect on column options\n\n#### -t --omit-header\n\nomit page headers and trailers; implied if PAGELENGTH <= 10\n\n#### -T --omit-pagination\n\nomit page headers and trailers, eliminate any pagination by form feeds set in input\nfiles\n\n#### -v --show-nonprinting\n\nuse octal backslash notation\n\n#### -w --width\n\nset page width to PAGEWIDTH (72) characters for multiple text-column output only,\n-s[char] turns off (72)\n\n#### -W --page-width\n\nset page width to PAGEWIDTH (72) characters always, truncate lines, except -J option\nis set, no interference with -S or -s\n\n--help display this help and exit\n\n#### --version\n\noutput version information and exit\n\n### AUTHOR\n\nWritten by Pete TerMaat and Roland Huebner.\n\n### REPORTING BUGS\n\nGNU coreutils online help: \nReport any translation bugs to \n\n### COPYRIGHT\n\nCopyright © 2020 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later\n.\nThis is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to\nthe extent permitted by law.\n\n### SEE ALSO\n\nFull documentation \nor available locally via: info '(coreutils) pr invocation'\n\n\n\nGNU coreutils 8.32 January 2026 PR(1)\n\n" } ], "structuredContent": { "command": "pr", "section": "1", "mode": "man", "summary": "pr - convert text files for printing", "synopsis": "pr [OPTION]... [FILE]...", "flags": [ { "flag": "", "long": "--columns", "arg": null, "description": "output COLUMN columns and print columns down, unless -a is used. Balance number of lines in the columns on each page" }, { "flag": "-a", "long": "--across", "arg": null, "description": "print columns across rather than down, used together with -COLUMN" }, { "flag": "-c", "long": "--show-control-chars", "arg": null, "description": "use hat notation (^G) and octal backslash notation" }, { "flag": "-d", "long": "--double-space", "arg": null, "description": "double space the output" }, { "flag": "-D", "long": "--date-format", "arg": null, "description": "use FORMAT for the header date" }, { "flag": "", "long": "--expand-tabs", "arg": null, "description": "expand input CHARs (TABs) to tab WIDTH (8)" }, { "flag": "-f", "long": "--form-feed", "arg": null, "description": "use form feeds instead of newlines to separate pages (by a 3-line page header with -F or a 5-line header and trailer without -F)" }, { "flag": "-h", "long": "--header", "arg": null, "description": "use a centered HEADER instead of filename in page header, -h \"\" prints a blank line, don't use -h\"\"" }, { "flag": "", "long": "--output-tabs", "arg": null, "description": "replace spaces with CHARs (TABs) to tab WIDTH (8)" }, { "flag": "-J", "long": "--join-lines", "arg": null, "description": "merge full lines, turns off -W line truncation, no column alignment, --sep-string[=STRING] sets separators" }, { "flag": "-l", "long": "--length", "arg": null, "description": "set the page length to PAGELENGTH (66) lines (default number of lines of text 56, and with -F 63). implies -t if PAGELENGTH <= 10" }, { "flag": "-m", "long": "--merge", "arg": null, "description": "print all files in parallel, one in each column, truncate lines, but join lines of full length with -J" }, { "flag": "", "long": "--number-lines", "arg": null, "description": "number lines, use DIGITS (5) digits, then SEP (TAB), default counting starts with 1st line of input file" }, { "flag": "-N", "long": "--first-line-number", "arg": null, "description": "start counting with NUMBER at 1st line of first page printed (see +FIRSTPAGE)" }, { "flag": "-o", "long": "--indent", "arg": null, "description": "offset each line with MARGIN (zero) spaces, do not affect -w or -W, MARGIN will be added to PAGEWIDTH" }, { "flag": "-r", "long": "--no-file-warnings", "arg": null, "description": "omit warning when a file cannot be opened" }, { "flag": "", "long": "--separator", "arg": null, "description": "separate columns by a single character, default for CHAR is the character with‐ out -w and 'no char' with -w. -s[CHAR] turns off line truncation of all 3 column op‐ tions (-COLUMN|-a -COLUMN|-m) except -w is set" }, { "flag": "", "long": "--sep-string", "arg": null, "description": "separate columns by STRING, without -S: Default separator with -J and otherwise (same as -S\" \"), no effect on column options" }, { "flag": "-t", "long": "--omit-header", "arg": null, "description": "omit page headers and trailers; implied if PAGELENGTH <= 10" }, { "flag": "-T", "long": "--omit-pagination", "arg": null, "description": "omit page headers and trailers, eliminate any pagination by form feeds set in input files" }, { "flag": "-v", "long": "--show-nonprinting", "arg": null, "description": "use octal backslash notation" }, { "flag": "-w", "long": "--width", "arg": null, "description": "set page width to PAGEWIDTH (72) characters for multiple text-column output only, -s[char] turns off (72)" }, { "flag": "-W", "long": "--page-width", "arg": null, "description": "set page width to PAGEWIDTH (72) characters always, truncate lines, except -J option is set, no interference with -S or -s --help display this help and exit" }, { "flag": "", "long": "--version", "arg": null, "description": "output version information and exit" } ], "examples": [], "see_also": [], "section_outline": [ { "name": "NAME", "lines": 2, "subsections": [] }, { "name": "SYNOPSIS", "lines": 2, "subsections": [] }, { "name": "DESCRIPTION", "lines": 9, "subsections": [ { "name": "-COLUMN --columns", "lines": 3, "long": "--columns" }, { "name": "-a --across", "lines": 2, "flag": "-a", "long": "--across" }, { "name": "-c --show-control-chars", "lines": 2, "flag": "-c", "long": "--show-control-chars" }, { "name": "-d --double-space", "lines": 2, "flag": "-d", "long": "--double-space" }, { "name": "-D --date-format", "lines": 2, "flag": "-D", "long": "--date-format" }, { "name": "-e[CHAR[WIDTH]] --expand-tabs", "lines": 2, "long": "--expand-tabs" }, { "name": "-F -f --form-feed", "lines": 3, "flag": "-f", "long": "--form-feed" }, { "name": "-h --header", "lines": 3, "flag": "-h", "long": "--header" }, { "name": "-i[CHAR[WIDTH]] --output-tabs", "lines": 2, "long": "--output-tabs" }, { "name": "-J --join-lines", "lines": 3, "flag": "-J", "long": "--join-lines" }, { "name": "-l --length", "lines": 3, "flag": "-l", "long": "--length" }, { "name": "-m --merge", "lines": 3, "flag": "-m", "long": "--merge" }, { "name": "-n[SEP[DIGITS]] --number-lines", "lines": 3, "long": "--number-lines" }, { "name": "-N --first-line-number", "lines": 2, "flag": "-N", "long": "--first-line-number" }, { "name": "-o --indent", "lines": 3, "flag": "-o", "long": "--indent" }, { "name": "-r --no-file-warnings", "lines": 2, "flag": "-r", "long": "--no-file-warnings" }, { "name": "-s[CHAR] --separator", "lines": 4, "long": "--separator" }, { "name": "-S[STRING] --sep-string", "lines": 3, "long": "--sep-string" }, { "name": "-t --omit-header", "lines": 2, "flag": "-t", "long": "--omit-header" }, { "name": "-T --omit-pagination", "lines": 3, "flag": "-T", "long": "--omit-pagination" }, { "name": "-v --show-nonprinting", "lines": 2, "flag": "-v", "long": "--show-nonprinting" }, { "name": "-w --width", "lines": 3, "flag": "-w", "long": "--width" }, { "name": "-W --page-width", "lines": 5, "flag": "-W", "long": "--page-width" }, { "name": "--version", "lines": 2, "long": "--version" } ] }, { "name": "AUTHOR", "lines": 2, "subsections": [] }, { "name": "REPORTING BUGS", "lines": 3, "subsections": [] }, { "name": "COPYRIGHT", "lines": 5, "subsections": [] }, { "name": "SEE ALSO", "lines": 6, "subsections": [] } ] } }