## 12.2. Command-Line Invocation

`nroff` and `troff` are invoked from the command line as follows:

>     nroff  [options]  [files]

>     troff  [options]  [files]

Many of the options are the same for both formatters.

### 12.2.1. nroff/troff Options

`-F` `dir`
  Search for font tables in directory dir.
`-i`
  Read standard input after files are processed.
`-m` `name`
  Prepend a macro file to input files. Historically, one of `/usr/lib/tmac/tmac.`name or `/usr/share/lib/tmac/tmac.`name were the locations of the macros for name. Solaris uses `/usr/share/lib/tmac/`name. The actual location and filename(s) vary among different Unix systems.
`-n` `N`
  First output page has page number N.
`-o` `list`
  Print pages contained only in the comma-separated list. Page ranges can be specified as n–m, `-`m (first page through m), or n`-` (n through end of file).
`-r` `aN`
  Set register a to N. The register a is restricted to one-character names.
`-s` `N`
  Stop every n pages. This allows changing a paper cassette. Resume by pressing Return (in `nroff`) or by pressing the start button on the typesetter (in `troff`).
`-T` `name`
  Prepare output designed for printer or typesetter name. For device names, see your specific documentation or a local expert.
`-u` `N`
  The font in position 3 is overstruck N times. Typically used to adjust the weight of the bold font.
`-z`
  Discard output except messages generated by `.tm` request (`otroff` only).

### 12.2.2. nroff-Only Options

`-e`
  When justifying output lines, space words equally (using terminal resolution instead of full space increments).
`-h`
  Hasten output by replacing eight horizontal spaces with a tab.
`-q`
  Invoke simultaneous input/output of `.rd` requests.

### 12.2.3. troff-Only Options

`-a`
  Format a printable ASCII approximation. Useful for finding page counts without producing printed output.
`-f`
  Don't stop the typesetter when formatting is done (`otroff` only).
`-N`
  Run as `nroff` instead of as `troff` (recent versions of `ditroff` only).

### 12.2.4. Examples

Run `chap1` through the `tbl` preprocessor, then format the result using the mm macros, with register `N` set to 5 (sets the page-numbering style), etc.:

>     tbl chap1 | troff -mm -rN5 | spooler &

Format `chap2` using the ms macros; the first page is 7, but print only pages 8–10, 15, and 18 through the end of the file:

>     nroff -ms -n7 -o8-10,15,18- chap2 | col > chap2.txt &

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