-.\" $Id: man.7,v 1.63 2010/05/07 15:49:36 kristaps Exp $
+.\" $Id: man.7,v 1.71 2010/05/15 07:01:51 kristaps Exp $
.\"
.\" Copyright (c) 2009 Kristaps Dzonsons <kristaps@bsd.lv>
.\"
.\" ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT OF
.\" OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
.\"
-.Dd $Mdocdate: May 7 2010 $
+.Dd $Mdocdate: May 15 2010 $
.Dt MAN 7
.Os
.Sh NAME
.Nm man
language was historically used to format
.Ux
-manuals. This reference document describes its syntax, structure, and
-usage.
+manuals.
+This reference document describes its syntax, structure, and usage.
.Pp
.Bf -emphasis
Do not use
document follows simple rules: lines beginning with the control
character
.Sq \&.
-are parsed for macros. Other lines are interpreted within the scope of
+are parsed for macros.
+Other lines are interpreted within the scope of
prior macros:
.Bd -literal -offset indent
\&.SH Macro lines change control state.
.Sh INPUT ENCODING
.Nm
documents may contain only graphable 7-bit ASCII characters, the
-space character, and the tabs character. All manuals must have
+space character, and the tabs character.
+All manuals must have
.Ux
line termination.
.Pp
Text following a
.Sq \e\*" ,
whether in a macro or free-form text line, is ignored to the end of
-line. A macro line with only a control character and comment escape,
+line.
+A macro line with only a control character and comment escape,
.Sq \&.\e" ,
-is also ignored. Macro lines with only a control character and
-optionally whitespace are stripped from input.
+is also ignored.
+Macro lines with only a control character and optionally whitespace are
+stripped from input.
.Ss Special Characters
Special characters may occur in both macro and free-form lines.
Sequences begin with the escape character
.Sq \&[
for n-character sequences (terminated at a close-bracket
.Sq \&] ) ;
-or a single one-character sequence. See
+or a single one-character sequence.
+See
.Xr mandoc_char 7
-for a complete list. Examples include
+for a complete list.
+Examples include
.Sq \e(em
.Pq em-dash
and
.D1 \efBbold\efR \efIitalic\efP
.Pp
A numerical representation 3, 2, or 1 (bold, italic, and Roman,
-respectively) may be used instead. A text decoration is only valid, if
-specified in free-form text, until the next macro invocation; if
-specified within a macro, it's only valid until the macro closes scope.
+respectively) may be used instead.
+A text decoration is only valid, if specified in free-form text, until
+the next macro invocation; if specified within a macro, it's only valid
+until the macro closes scope.
Note that macros like
.Sx \&BR
open and close a font scope with each argument.
.Sq \ef
attributes are forgotten when entering or exiting a macro block.
.Ss Whitespace
-Unless specifically escaped, consecutive blocks of whitespace are pruned
-from input. These are later re-added, if applicable, by a front-end
-utility such as
-.Xr mandoc 1 .
+Whitespace consists of the space character.
+In free-form lines, whitespace is preserved within a line; un-escaped
+trailing spaces are stripped from input (unless in a literal context).
+Blank free-form lines, which may include spaces, are permitted and
+rendered as an empty line.
+.Pp
+In macro lines, whitespace delimits arguments and is discarded.
+If arguments are quoted, whitespace within the quotes is retained.
.Ss Dates
The
.Sx \&TH
macro is the only
.Nm
-macro that requires a date. The form for this date is the ISO-8601
+macro that requires a date.
+The form for this date is the ISO-8601
standard
.Cm YYYY-MM-DD .
.Ss Scaling Widths
The syntax for scaled widths is
.Sq Li [+-]?[0-9]*.[0-9]*[:unit:]? ,
where a decimal must be preceded or proceeded by at least one digit.
-Negative numbers, while accepted, are truncated to zero. The following
-scaling units are accepted:
+Negative numbers, while accepted, are truncated to zero.
+The following scaling units are accepted:
.Pp
.Bl -tag -width Ds -offset indent -compact
.It c
.Xr mdoc 7 ,
which, if a unit is not provided, will instead interpret the string as
literal text.
+.Ss Sentence Spacing
+When composing a manual, make sure that your sentences end at the end of
+a line.
+By doing so, front-ends will be able to apply the proper amount of
+spacing after the end of sentence (unescaped) period, exclamation mark,
+or question mark followed by zero or more non-sentence closing
+delimiters (
+.Ns Sq \&) ,
+.Sq \&] ,
+.Sq \&' ,
+.Sq \&" ) .
.Sh MANUAL STRUCTURE
Each
.Nm
document must contain contains at least the
.Sx \&TH
-macro describing the document's section and title. It may occur
-anywhere in the document, although conventionally, it appears as the
-first macro.
+macro describing the document's section and title.
+It may occur anywhere in the document, although conventionally, it
+appears as the first macro.
.Pp
Beyond
.Sx \&TH ,
-at least one macro or text node must appear in the document. Documents
-are generally structured as follows:
+at least one macro or text node must appear in the document.
+Documents are generally structured as follows:
.Bd -literal -offset indent
\&.TH FOO 1 2009-10-10
\&.
The \efBfoo\efR utility processes files...
\&.
\&.\e\*q .SH IMPLEMENTATION NOTES
-\&.\e\*q The next is for sections 1 & 8 only.
-\&.\e\*q .SH EXIT STATUS
\&.\e\*q The next is for sections 2, 3, & 9 only.
\&.\e\*q .SH RETURN VALUES
\&.\e\*q The next is for sections 1, 6, 7, & 8 only.
\&.\e\*q .SH ENVIRONMENT
\&.\e\*q .SH FILES
+\&.\e\*q The next is for sections 1 & 8 only.
+\&.\e\*q .SH EXIT STATUS
\&.\e\*q .SH EXAMPLES
\&.\e\*q The next is for sections 1, 4, 6, 7, & 8 only.
\&.\e\*q .SH DIAGNOSTICS
.Pp
The sections in a
.Nm
-document are conventionally ordered as they appear above. Sections
-should be composed as follows:
+document are conventionally ordered as they appear above.
+Sections should be composed as follows:
.Bl -ohang -offset indent
.It Em NAME
-The name(s) and a short description of the documented material. The
-syntax for this is generally as follows:
+The name(s) and a short description of the documented material.
+The syntax for this is generally as follows:
.Pp
.D1 \efBname\efR \e(en description
.It Em LIBRARY
The name of the library containing the documented material, which is
-assumed to be a function in a section 2 or 3 manual. For functions in
-the C library, this may be as follows:
+assumed to be a function in a section 2 or 3 manual.
+For functions in the C library, this may be as follows:
.Pp
.D1 Standard C Library (libc, -lc)
.It Em SYNOPSIS
It usually contains a break-down of the options (if documenting a
command).
.It Em IMPLEMENTATION NOTES
-Implementation-specific notes should be kept here. This is useful when
-implementing standard functions that may have side effects or notable
-algorithmic implications.
-.It Em EXIT STATUS
-Command exit status for section 1, 6, and 8 manuals. This section is
-the dual of
-.Em RETURN VALUES ,
-which is used for functions. Historically, this information was
-described in
-.Em DIAGNOSTICS ,
-a practise that is now discouraged.
+Implementation-specific notes should be kept here.
+This is useful when implementing standard functions that may have side
+effects or notable algorithmic implications.
.It Em RETURN VALUES
This section is the dual of
.Em EXIT STATUS ,
-which is used for commands. It documents the return values of functions
-in sections 2, 3, and 9.
+which is used for commands.
+It documents the return values of functions in sections 2, 3, and 9.
.It Em ENVIRONMENT
Documents any usages of environment variables, e.g.,
.Xr environ 7 .
.It Em FILES
-Documents files used. It's helpful to document both the file and a
-short description of how the file is used (created, modified, etc.).
+Documents files used.
+It's helpful to document both the file and a short description of how
+the file is used (created, modified, etc.).
+.It Em EXIT STATUS
+Command exit status for section 1, 6, and 8 manuals.
+This section is the dual of
+.Em RETURN VALUES ,
+which is used for functions.
+Historically, this information was described in
+.Em DIAGNOSTICS ,
+a practise that is now discouraged.
.It Em EXAMPLES
-Example usages. This often contains snippets of well-formed,
-well-tested invocations. Make doubly sure that your examples work
-properly!
+Example usages.
+This often contains snippets of well-formed,
+well-tested invocations.
+Make doubly sure that your examples work properly!
.It Em DIAGNOSTICS
-Documents error conditions. This is most useful in section 4 manuals.
+Documents error conditions.
+This is most useful in section 4 manuals.
Historically, this section was used in place of
.Em EXIT STATUS
for manuals in sections 1, 6, and 8; however, this practise is
.It Em ERRORS
Documents error handling in sections 2, 3, and 9.
.It Em SEE ALSO
-References other manuals with related topics. This section should exist
-for most manuals.
+References other manuals with related topics.
+This section should exist for most manuals.
.Pp
.D1 \&.BR bar \&( 1 \&),
.Pp
Macros are one to three three characters in length and begin with a
control character ,
.Sq \&. ,
-at the beginning of the line. The
+at the beginning of the line.
+The
.Sq \(aq
-macro control character is also accepted. An arbitrary amount of
-whitespace (spaces or tabs) may sit between the control character and
-the macro name. Thus, the following are equivalent:
+macro control character is also accepted.
+An arbitrary amount of whitespace (spaces or tabs) may sit between the
+control character and the macro name.
+Thus, the following are equivalent:
.Bd -literal -offset indent
\&.PP
\&.\ \ \ PP
.Pp
The
.Nm
-macros are classified by scope: line scope or block scope. Line
-macros are only scoped to the current line (and, in some situations,
-the subsequent line). Block macros are scoped to the current line and
-subsequent lines until closed by another block macro.
+macros are classified by scope: line scope or block scope.
+Line macros are only scoped to the current line (and, in some
+situations, the subsequent line).
+Block macros are scoped to the current line and subsequent lines until
+closed by another block macro.
.Ss Line Macros
Line macros are generally scoped to the current line, with the body
-consisting of zero or more arguments. If a macro is scoped to the next
-line and the line arguments are empty, the next line, which must be
-text, is used instead. Thus:
+consisting of zero or more arguments.
+If a macro is scoped to the next line and the line arguments are empty,
+the next line, which must be text, is used instead.
+Thus:
.Bd -literal -offset indent
\&.I
foo
.It Sx \&nf Ta 0 Ta current Ta compat
.It Sx \&r Ta 0 Ta current Ta compat
.It Sx \&sp Ta 1 Ta current Ta compat
-.\" .It Sx \&Sp Ta 0 Ta current Ta compat
+.\" .It Sx \&Sp Ta <1 Ta current Ta compat
.\" .It Sx \&Vb Ta <1 Ta current Ta compat
.\" .It Sx \&Ve Ta 0 Ta current Ta compat
.El
Macros marked as
.Qq compat
are included for compatibility with the significant corpus of existing
-manuals that mix dialects of roff. These macros should not be used for
-portable
+manuals that mix dialects of roff.
+These macros should not be used for portable
.Nm
manuals.
.Ss Block Macros
-Block macros are comprised of a head and body. Like for in-line macros,
-the head is scoped to the current line and, in one circumstance, the
-next line (the next-line stipulations as in
+Block macros are comprised of a head and body.
+Like for in-line macros, the head is scoped to the current line and, in
+one circumstance, the next line (the next-line stipulations as in
.Sx Line Macros
apply here as well).
.Pp
macros for decorating text.
.Sh REFERENCE
This section is a canonical reference to all macros, arranged
-alphabetically. For the scoping of individual macros, see
+alphabetically.
+For the scoping of individual macros, see
.Sx MACRO SYNTAX .
.Ss \&B
Text is rendered in bold face.
and
.Sx \&r .
.Ss \&BI
-Text is rendered alternately in bold face and italic. Thus,
+Text is rendered alternately in bold face and italic.
+Thus,
.Sq .BI this word and that
causes
.Sq this
.Sq word
and
.Sq that
-render in italics. Whitespace between arguments is omitted in output.
+render in italics.
+Whitespace between arguments is omitted in output.
.Pp
Examples:
.Pp
and
.Sx \&IR .
.Ss \&DT
-Has no effect. Included for compatibility.
+Has no effect.
+Included for compatibility.
.Ss \&HP
Begin a paragraph whose initial output line is left-justified, but
subsequent output lines are indented, with the following syntax:
.Pp
The
.Cm head
-argument is used as a leading term, flushed to the left margin. This is
-useful for bulleted paragraphs and so on.
+argument is used as a leading term, flushed to the left margin.
+This is useful for bulleted paragraphs and so on.
.Pp
See also
.Sx \&HP ,
and
.Sx \&RI .
.Ss \&LP
-Begin an undecorated paragraph. The scope of a paragraph is closed by a
-subsequent paragraph, sub-section, section, or end of file. The saved
-paragraph left-margin width is re-set to the default.
+Begin an undecorated paragraph.
+The scope of a paragraph is closed by a subsequent paragraph,
+sub-section, section, or end of file.
+The saved paragraph left-margin width is re-set to the default.
.Pp
See also
.Sx \&HP ,
and
.Sx \&IR .
.Ss \&RS
-Begin a part setting the left margin. The left margin controls the
-offset, following an initial indentation, to un-indented text such as
-that of
+Begin a part setting the left margin.
+The left margin controls the offset, following an initial indentation,
+to un-indented text such as that of
.Sx \&PP .
This has the following syntax:
.Bd -filled -offset indent
Text is rendered in small size (one point smaller than the default font)
bold face.
.Ss \&SH
-Begin a section. The scope of a section is only closed by another
-section or the end of file. The paragraph left-margin width is re-set
-to the default.
+Begin a section.
+The scope of a section is only closed by another section or the end of
+file.
+The paragraph left-margin width is re-set to the default.
.Ss \&SM
Text is rendered in small size (one point smaller than the default
font).
.Ss \&SS
-Begin a sub-section. The scope of a sub-section is closed by a
-subsequent sub-section, section, or end of file. The paragraph
-left-margin width is re-set to the default.
+Begin a sub-section.
+The scope of a sub-section is closed by a subsequent sub-section,
+section, or end of file.
+The paragraph left-margin width is re-set to the default.
.Ss \&TH
Sets the title of the manual page with the following syntax:
.Bd -filled -offset indent
.Cm title
and numeric manual section
.Cm section
-arguments must be provided. The
+arguments must be provided.
+The
.Cm date
argument should be formatted as described in
.Sx Dates :
-if it does not conform, the current date is used instead. The
+if it does not conform, the current date is used instead.
+The
.Cm source
-string specifies the organisation providing the utility. The
+string specifies the organisation providing the utility.
+The
.Cm volume
string replaces the default rendered volume, which is dictated by the
manual section.
.Ss \&TP
Begin a paragraph where the head, if exceeding the indentation width, is
followed by a newline; if not, the body follows on the same line after a
-buffer to the indentation width. Subsequent output lines are indented.
+buffer to the indentation width.
+Subsequent output lines are indented.
The syntax is as follows:
.Bd -filled -offset indent
.Pf \. Sx \&TP
.\" .Ss \&UC
.\" Has no effect. Included for compatibility.
.Ss \&br
-Breaks the current line. Consecutive invocations have no further effect.
+Breaks the current line.
+Consecutive invocations have no further effect.
.Pp
See also
.Sx \&sp .
End literal mode begun by
.Sx \&nf .
.Ss \&i
-Italicise arguments. Synonym for
+Italicise arguments.
+Synonym for
.Sx \&I .
.Pp
See also
Don't align to the right margin.
.Ss \&nf
Begin literal mode: all subsequent free-form lines have their end of
-line boundaries preserved. May be ended by
+line boundaries preserved.
+May be ended by
.Sx \&fi .
.Ss \&r
Fonts and styles (bold face, italics) reset to roman (default font).
.Sx Scaling Widths .
If 0, this is equivalent to the
.Sx \&br
-macro. Defaults to 1, if unspecified.
+macro.
+Defaults to 1, if unspecified.
.Pp
See also
.Sx \&br .
.Bl -dash -compact
.It
In quoted literals, GNU troff allowed pair-wise double-quotes to produce
-a standalone double-quote in formatted output. It is not known whether
-this behaviour is exhibited by other formatters.
+a standalone double-quote in formatted output.
+It is not known whether this behaviour is exhibited by other formatters.
.It
The
.Sx \&sp
-macro does not accept negative values in mandoc. In GNU troff, this
-would result in strange behaviour.
+macro does not accept negative values in mandoc.
+In GNU troff, this would result in strange behaviour.
.It
The
.Sq \(aq
reference was written by
.An Kristaps Dzonsons Aq kristaps@bsd.lv .
.Sh CAVEATS
-Do not use this language. Use
+Do not use this language.
+Use
.Xr mdoc 7 ,
instead.
git.ckatri.com / mandoc.git / blobdiff