grops Command in Linux
grops is a command used in Linux to convert the output of the GNU troff format into PostScript format. Typically, you run grops through the groff command with the -Tps option to specify PostScript output. However, if no files are provided, the grops command read from standard input and it writes the PostScript output to the standard output. You can also pass options to this command via the groff -P option.
The grops command is pretty useful in case you want to generate PostScript documents from troff formatted text.
Table of Contents
Here is a comprehensive guide to the options available with the grops command in linux −
Syntax for grops Command
The basic syntax to use the grops command on Linux is as follows −
grops [options][files..]
Where,
- [options] are additional parameters to customize the behavior of the grops command.
- [files] are one or more files you want to process with the command.
grops Command Options
Heres are some options you can use with the grops command on Linux system −
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| -b n | Applies workarounds for older printers and broken spoolers. n specifies the workaround level. |
| -c n | Prints n copies of each page. |
| -F dir | Adds the specified directory to the search path for prologue, font, and device description files. |
| -g | Generates PostScript code to determine the page length. |
| -I dir | Adds the specified directory to the search path for files to be included. |
| -p paper_size | Sets the paper size (e.g., A4, letter). |
| -P prologue | Uses the specified prologue file instead of the default. |
| -w n | Sets the thickness of rules (lines) in points. |
Examples of grops Command in Linux
The following are some practical examples of grops command that can help understand its usage in Linux system −
- Generating PostScript with Custom Paper Size
- Printing Multiple Copies
- Using a Custom Prologue File
- Setting Rule Thickness
- Adding Search Path for Included Files
Generating PostScript with Custom Paper Size
You can use the grops command on Linux to generate PostScript output with a specific paper size. For example, if you want to set the paper size to A4, you can use the -p option followed by the paper size. Heres how you can do it −
groff -Tps -P -pA4 myfile.tr | grops > output.ps
Once you run the above command, it will process the myfile.tr file using groff and specify the paper size as A4. The grops command then converts the output into a PostScript file named output.ps.
Printing Multiple Copies
If you need to print multiple copies of each page, you can use the -c option followed by the number of copies. For example −
groff -Tps -P -c3 myfile.tr | grops > output.ps
The above command will process myfile.tr with groff and instructs grops to print three copies of each page. The resulting PostScript is saved in output.ps.
Using a Custom Prologue File
In case you want to use a custom prologue file instead of the default one, you can use the -P option followed by the prologue file name. Heres an example −
groff -Tps -P custom.pro myfile.tr | grops > output.ps
After the execution, the above command will process myfile.tr with groff and use custom.pro as the prologue file. The grops command will then generate the PostScript output, which is saved in output.ps.
Setting Rule Thickness
You can also set the thickness of rules (lines) in points by using the -w option followed by the desired thickness. For example −
groff -Tps -P -w2 myfile.tr | grops > output.ps
This command will process myfile.tr with groff and set the rule thickness to 2 points. The grops command will then generate the PostScript output, saved in output.ps.
Adding Search Path for Included Files
If you need to add a directory to the search path for files to be included, you can use the -I option followed by the directory path. Heres how you can do it −
groff -Tps -P -I/usr/local/include myfile.tr | grops > output.ps
When this command is executed, it will process myfile.tr with groff and add /usr/local/include to the search path for included files. The grops command will then generate the PostScript output, saved in output.ps.
Thats how you can use the grops command on your Linux system.
Conclusion
The grops is an essential tool used in Linux for converting GNU troff output into PostScript format. In this guide, we have covered the commands syntax and various options available to customize its behavior.
By following the practical examples provided in this tutorial, you can effectively manage your document processing tasks and increase your productivity. You can also customize the grops command based on your specific needs to enhance your overall workflow and output quality.