pr

pr [options] [files]

Format one or more files according to options to standard output. Each page includes a heading that consists of the page number, filename, date, and time.

Options

-a

Multi-column format; list items in rows going across.

-d

Double-spaced format.

-ecn

Set input tabs to every nth position (default is 8), and use c as field delimiter (default is a tab).

-f

Separate pages using formfeed character (^L) instead of a series of blank lines.

-F

Fold input lines (avoids truncation by -a or -m).

-hstr

Replace default header with string str.

-icn

For output, replace white space with field delimiter c (default is a tab) every nth position (default is 8).

-ln

Set page length to n (default is 66).

-m

Merge files, printing one in each column (can't be used with -n and -a). Text is chopped to fit. See also paste.

-ncn

Number lines with numbers n digits in length (default is 5), followed by field separator c (default is a tab). See also nl.

-on

Offset each line n spaces (default is 0).

-p

Pause before each page.

-r

Suppress messages for files that can't be found.

-sc

Separate columns with c (default is a tab).

-t

Omit the page header and trailing blank lines.

-wn

Set line width to n (default is 72).

+num

Begin printing at page num (default is 1).

-n

Produce output having n columns (default is 1); tabs are expanded as with -i.

Examples

Print a side-by-side list, omitting heading and extra lines:

pr -m -t list.1 list.2 list.3

Alphabetize a list of states; number the lines in five columns:

sort states_50 | pr -n -5