This command is available with the Text software installation option. Refer to [a manual with the abbreviation INSTALL] for information on how to install optional software.
tbl is a preprocessor for formatting tables for nroff.1 or troff.1 The input filenames are copied to the standard output, except that lines between .TS and .TE command lines are assumed to describe tables and are reformatted. Details are given in [a manual with the abbreviation DOCS].
If no arguments are given, tbl reads the standard input, so tbl may be used as a filter. When tbl is used with eqn.1 or neqn the tbl command should be first, to minimize the volume of data passed through pipes.
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\tPopulation 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:!
[a manual with the abbreviation DOCS]
Created by unroff & hp-tools. © somebody (See intro for details). All Rights Reserved. Last modified 11/5/97