DOKK / manpages / debian 12 / troffcvt / troffcvt.1.en
TROFFCVT(1) General Commands Manual TROFFCVT(1)

troffcvt - troff-to-XXX converter

troffcvt [ options ] file ...

troffcvt converts troff input into an intermediate form that is easier to interpret than raw troff language. This intermediate form can then be used by postprocessors like tc2html or tc2rtf to produce final output in a target format such as HTML or RTF.

troffcvt understands the options listed below. Except as noted, options must be specified before the first input file named on the command line.

Normally, troffcvt reads the default action file before reading any action or macro files named on the command line using the -a or -m options. If -A is specified, troffcvt doesn't read the default action file. This option is rarely used, but it can be helpful when you want to try out a modified default file.
Read the given action file. -a may also be specified in the input file part of the argument list.
Turn on groff-style compatibility mode. Specifically, this option disables recognition of long (> 2 character) request and macro names, and special character, register, string, font, and macro argument references of the forms \[xxx], \n[xxx], \*[xxx], \f[xxx], and \$[nnn].
If -C is specified, compatibility mode is turned on when the first input file is about to be read. (Macro packages specified with -m may turn on compatibility mode themselves, of course. However, compatibility mode is always turned off while action files are read.)
Turn on debugging flag N. The flags are listed in troffcvt.h. If -d is not followed by a number, all flags are turned on.
Generate \line controls in the output to indicate the point at which each input line was read. These controls have the following form: 

\line filename linenumber

where filename is the current input filename and linenumber is the current input line in that file.

Read the given macro package (e.g., -man, -ms) before the input files are read.
Specify a resolution of N units per inch. The default is 432 units/inch.
Specify a formatter type that troffcvt should try to act like. Valid formatter-type values are:
Act like nroff
Act like troff
This option has little effect on troffcvt's behavior other than to determine the result of the .if t and .if n conditionals.

troffcvt finds action files by looking in the following locations:

  • The current directory.
  • The troffcvt library directory, /usr/share/troffcvt.

troffcvt finds macro packages by looking in the following locations:

  • The directories named by the TROFFCVT_TMAC_PATH environment variable, if that variable is set. TROFFCVT_TMAC_PATH consists of one or more directories, separated by colons.
  • The directory named by the TROFFCVT_LIB_DIR environment variable, if that variable is set.
  • The current directory.
  • The compiled-in troffcvt library directory /usr/share/troffcvt. This allows you to override a system macro package by placing a different version in the troffcvt library.
  • The system macro directory (e.g., /usr/lib/tmac or /usr/share/groff/tmac).

Macro and action files specified with -m and -a prior to the first input file are processed in order before the first input file is read. Once the initial options have been read and processed, troffcvt reads the input files, or the standard input if no files are read. The name - may be used to refer explicitly to the standard input. -a may be used to intersperse action files with input files in this part of the argument list. For example:

% troffcvt -ms mymacros -a tc.mymacros mydoc

If troffcvt cannot open a macro file, you will see this message:

cannot open macro file -mxx

This message is fatal.

If troffcvt cannot open an action file, you will see this message:

cannot open action file <xx>

This message usually indicates a problem, but is not fatal (except for the default action file actions, which must be available for troffcvt to do anything at all). If you still get reasonable output, you can ignore it. To make the message go away, create an empty file named xx in any of the directories in which troffcvt looks for action files. If you don't get reasonable output, then a non-empty file needs to be created that redefines the macros that confuse troffcvt.

/usr/share/troffcvt troffcvt library directory

Paul DuBois, dubois@primate.wisc.edu.

tc2html(1), tc2rtf(1), tc2text(1), troff2html(1), troff2rtf(1), unroff(1).

troffcvt - Notes, Bugs, Deficiencies.

There are many. See the document troffcvt - Notes, Bugs, Deficiencies.