An Output Processor command is preceded by a space and a period (the period is part of the command) followed by the characters that make up the command. The Output Processor command ends with a space, another Output Processor command, or an attribute mark. The Output Processor commands are not shown in the formatted and printed text.
Most Output Processor commands have a shortcut syntax. The shortcut is referenced with each command.
Syntax
.opcommand [ |{.}opcommand)] |
Execution of the Output Processor commands can be suppressed by utilizing the override character. The default override character is the underscore. When the underscore is placed before the period following the command, the command is not executed but output like normal textual data. To change this character, use the .oc command. If the underscore is to be used in the text, then the override character should be changed.
Margins
The margins define the boundaries in which the Output Processor places text.
The following Output Processor commands are presented:
Treats the entire line following the asterisk as a remark. Any text following the command is ignored by the Output Processor. |
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Alphabetically assigns letters to appendix titles and creates entries in the table of contents. |
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Forces a page break. |
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Centers all of the attributes following the command until an .xblock center command is issued. |
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Prints text in boldface until an .xboldface command is encountered. |
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Draws a box at the column positions specified in the command and overwrites anything that occupies those positions. |
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Creates a new paragraph, is surrounded by at least one space, and can be placed anywhere in the text. |
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Capitalizes the first letter of each sentence or attribute. |
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Centers the single line of text that follows the command, can be anywhere in the text, and does not need to be turned off. |
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Passes control to a specified item-ID in the same (current) file or in a different (file reference) file. |
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Starts a new chapter. |
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Sends a raw string of characters to the printer or terminal without translation. |
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Uses the column headings and spacing specified with the last .columns set or .variable columns command to determine the position of the specified column number. |
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Specifies the column heading, column width, and column spacing. |
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Directs the output from the Output Processor to the terminal, overriding the p option specified at TCL. |
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Outputs the text on the column and row specified. |
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Outputs the current system date in the form month day, year. |
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Sends the device a control code to select the default font. |
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Inserts spaces in output text and is dependent on the printer type. |
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Disables any previous .upper case or .lower case commands. |
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Numbers the figures sequentially using the current chapter number followed by a dash and the sequence number within the chapter. |
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Selects the font defined in the device item or specifies fonts that are not predefined in the printer item. |
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Designates a text string composed of literals and special options to output at the bottom of each page. |
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Indents the text to the column set by the previous .ht command. |
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Sets a tab stop at the column in the text where it is entered. |
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Designates a text string composed of literals and special options to output at the top of each page. |
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Prints a single character on the right margin and is in effect until an .xhilite command is issued. |
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Indents the text following the command a specified number spaces from the left margin. |
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Adjusts the left margin a specified number of spaces. |
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Adjusts the right margin a specified number of spaces. |
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Inserts a phrase and the current page number into the index. |
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Substitutes the heading text as the header for index pages. The heading text is output on the top of each index page. |
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Accepts and processes text input from the terminal. |
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Causes the text following the command to be output in italics. |
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Right-aligns each line of text with the right margin by adding spaces in each line to pad to the end of the line. |
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Sets the left margin at a specific number of spaces from the left edge of the paper and remains in affect until an .im, .left margin, or .standard command is issued. |
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Sets the line length a specified number of characters from the left margin and remains in affect until changed by another .line length command. |
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Sends all subsequent output to the currently assigned printer. |
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Outputs text in lowercase characters. The .end case command terminates this command. |
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Sets the number of lines per inch for output. |
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Defines the file name that contains the Output Processor macro items. |
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Resets both the justify and fill modes. |
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Treats all characters that follow it as text. |
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Sets the page length to the number of lines specified. |
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Sets the default page number to a specified integer number. |
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Pauses at the end of each page when the output is sent to the terminal. |
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Specifies the number of spaces to indent the first line of a paragraph. |
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Sets the automatic preface formatting. |
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Turns on the prefix page numbering mode, which starts numbering each chapter at page 1. |
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Prints the index, changes the tab settings, and begins a new page. |
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Prints a partial table of contents. |
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Prints the complete table of contents. |
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Outputs the text on the following line to the terminal. |
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Reads an (Output Processor) item and outputs the item as part of the current text. |
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Reads data, one value at a time from an active list. |
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Reads data from an active list. |
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Resets the printer to its initial state. |
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Sets the right margin at a specific number of spaces from the right edge of the paper and remains in affect until an .indent rmargin, .right margin or .standard command is issued. |
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Saves the table of contents to a defined item-ID. |
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Saves the index to a defined item-ID in the same file where the Output Processor document resides. |
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Produces automatic section numbering and formatting. |
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Sets the options for chapter headings. |
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Defines the options for the section headings. |
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Outputs a specific number of blank lines using the current line spacing. |
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Outputs a specific number of blank lines using single-line spacing. |
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Sets the line spacing to a specific number of lines. |
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Defines the default parameter and mode settings for the Output Processor text. |
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Moves text down one-half line. Text remains in this position until an .xsubscript command is issued. |
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Moves text up one-half line. |
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Defines a pattern, which is repeated to fill the line from the current position to the next tab stop. |
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Moves the word or specified phrase following the command to the next tab position and left-aligns the last character of the word or phrase at the tab position. |
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Moves the word or delimited phrase following the command to the next tab position and right-aligns the last character of the word or phrase at the tab position. |
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Right-aligns the optional text with the right margin. |
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Defines the location of tab stops. |
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Provides automatic table numbering with sequential numbers in the form of a chapter number. |
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Substitutes the heading text as the header for the table of contents pages. |
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Executes the specified TCL command as part of the output and draws a box around it. |
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Executes the specified TCL command and inserts the output in the Output Processor document. |
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Tests the number of lines left on the current page and determines whether the text is output on the current or next page. |
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Underlines the text following until an .xul or .x command is encountered. |
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Underlines all words until an .xuw command is issued. |
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Outputs text in uppercase characters, unless specifically altered by the \ lowercase special control function. |
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Specifies parameters for formatting in variable-width multiple columns. |
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Specifies the amount of vertical space each line uses. |
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Turns off the boldface, underline word, underline, and italic modes. |
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Turns the block center mode off. |
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Turns the boldface mode off. |
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Turns off the .box command and draws the bottom line of the box. |
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Turns off the cap sentences mode. |
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Turns off the column heading, width, and spacing set by the .columns or .columns set commands. |
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Turns off the .hilite or .hi commands. |
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Designates the end of an index topic for a topic embedded in text. |
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Turns off the italics mode. |
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Turns off the justify mode. |
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Turns off the paging option and causes the output to scroll down the terminal. |
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Turns off the paragraph mode. |
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Turns off the preface mode. |
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Turns off the prefix page mode. |
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Turns off the subscript mode. |
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Turns off the superscript mode. |
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Turns off the underline mode. |
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Turns off the .underline words command. |