pr1
Convert text files for printing
Usage
pr [OPTION] ...
[FILE] ...
Overview
Paginate or columnate FILE(s) for printing.
With no FILE, or when FILE is -, read standard input.
Mandatory arguments to long options are mandatory for short options too.
- +FIRST_PAGE[:LAST_PAGE], --pages=FIRST_PAGE[:LAST_PAGE]
-
begin [stop] printing with page FIRST_[LAST_]PAGE
-
-COLS, --columns=COLS -
output COLS columns and print columns down, unless
-ais used. Balance number of lines in the columns on each page
-
-a, --across -
print columns across rather than down, used together with
-COLS
-
-c, --show-control-chars -
use hat notation (^G) and octal backslash notation
-
-d, --double-space -
double space the output
-
-D, --date-format=FORMAT -
use FORMAT for the header date
- -e[CHAR[WIDTH]], --expand-tabs[=CHAR[WIDTH]]
-
expand input CHARs (TABs) to tab WIDTH (8)
-
-F, -f, --form-feed -
use form feeds instead of newlines to separate pages (by a 3-line page header with
-For a 5-line header and trailer without-F)
-
-h, --header=HEADER -
use a centered HEADER instead of filename in page header,
-h"" prints a blank line, don't use-h""
- -i[CHAR[WIDTH]], --output-tabs[=CHAR[WIDTH]]
-
replace spaces with CHARs (TABs) to tab WIDTH (8)
-
-J, --join-lines -
merge full lines, turns off
-Wline truncation, no column alignment,--sep-string[=STRING] sets separators
-
-l, --length=PAGE_LENGTH -
set the page length to PAGE_LENGTH (66) lines (default number of lines of text 56, and with
-F63). implies-tif PAGE_LENGTH <= 10
-
-m, --merge -
print all files in parallel, one in each column, truncate lines, but join lines of full length with
-J
- -n[SEP[DIGITS]], --number-lines[=SEP[DIGITS]]
-
number lines, use DIGITS (5) digits, then SEP (TAB), default counting starts with 1st line of input file
-
-N, --first-line-number=NUMBER -
start counting with NUMBER at 1st line of first page printed (see +FIRST_PAGE)
-
-o, --indent=MARGIN -
offset each line with MARGIN (zero) spaces, do not affect
-wor-W, MARGIN will be added to PAGE_WIDTH
-
-r, --no-file-warnings -
omit warning when a file cannot be opened
-
-s[CHAR], --separator[=CHAR] -
separate columns by a single character, default for CHAR is the <TAB> character without
-wand 'no char' with-w.-s[CHAR] turns off line truncation of all 3 column options (-COLS|-a-COLS|-m) except-wis set
-
-S[STRING], --sep-string[=STRING] -
separate columns by STRING, without
-S: Default separator <TAB> with-Jand <space> otherwise (same as-S" "), no effect on column options
-
-t, --omit-header -
omit page headers and trailers; implied if PAGE_LENGTH <= 10
-
-T, --omit-pagination -
omit page headers and trailers, eliminate any pagination by form feeds set in input files
-
-v, --show-nonprinting -
use octal backslash notation
-
-w, --width=PAGE_WIDTH -
set page width to PAGE_WIDTH (72) characters for multiple text-column output only,
-s[char] turns off (72)
-
-W, --page-width=PAGE_WIDTH -
set page width to PAGE_WIDTH (72) characters always, truncate lines, except
-Joption is set, no interference with-Sor-s
-
--help -
display this help and exit
-
--version -
output version information and exit
Releases
19 releases since Debian 1.1 (Buzz); the text changed 15 times.
--across since Debian 2.2 (Potato);
--columns since Debian 3.0 (Woody);
--date-format since Debian 3.1 (Sarge);
--double-space since Debian 3.0 (Woody);
--first-line-number since Debian 3.0 (Woody);
--form-feed since Debian 3.0 (Woody);
--header since Debian 3.0 (Woody);
--indent since Debian 3.0 (Woody);
--join-lines since Debian 2.2 (Potato);
--length since Debian 3.0 (Woody);
--merge since Debian 2.2 (Potato);
--no-file-warnings since Debian 3.0 (Woody);
--omit-header since Debian 5.0 (Lenny);
--omit-pagination since Debian 3.0 (Woody);
--page-width since Debian 3.0 (Woody);
--sep-string since Debian 3.0 (Woody);
--separator since Debian 3.0 (Woody);
--show-control-chars since Debian 3.0 (Woody);
--show-nonprinting since Debian 3.0 (Woody);
--width since Debian 3.0 (Woody);
-COLS since Arch Linux 2026-11-01;
-D since Debian 3.1 (Sarge);
-F since Debian 3.0 (Woody);
-J since Debian 2.2 (Potato);
-N since Debian 3.0 (Woody);
-S since Debian 8 (Jessie);
-T since Debian 3.0 (Woody);
-W since Debian 3.0 (Woody);
-c since Debian 3.0 (Woody);
-d since Debian 3.0 (Woody);
-f since Debian 3.0 (Woody);
-h since Debian 3.0 (Woody);
-l since Debian 3.0 (Woody);
-o since Debian 3.0 (Woody);
-r since Debian 3.0 (Woody);
-s since Debian 3.0 (Woody);
-t since Debian 5.0 (Lenny);
-v since Debian 3.0 (Woody);
-w since Debian 3.0 (Woody).
-COLUMN until Debian 13 (Trixie);
-SSTRING until Debian 7 (Wheezy);
-b until Debian 2.1 (Slink).