| --pages | begin [stop] printing with page FIRST_[LAST_]PAGE |
| -COLUMN--columns | output COLUMN columns and print columns down, unless -a is used. Balance number of lines in the columns on each page |
| -a--across | print columns across rather than down, used together with -COLUMN |
| -c--show-control-chars | use hat notation (^G) and octal backslash notation |
| -d--double-space | double space the output |
| -D--date-format | use FORMAT for the header date |
| -e--expand-tabs | expand input CHARs (TABs) to tab WIDTH (8) |
| -F-f--form-feed | use form feeds instead of newlines to separate pages (by a 3-line page header with -F or a 5-line header and trailer without -F) |
| -h--header | use a centered HEADER instead of filename in page header, -h "" prints a blank line, don't use -h"" |
| -i--output-tabs | replace spaces with CHARs (TABs) to tab WIDTH (8) |
| -J--join-lines | merge full lines, turns off -W line truncation, no column alignment, --sep-string[=STRING] sets separators |
| -l--length | set the page length to PAGE_LENGTH (66) lines (default number of lines of text 56, and with -F 63). implies -t if PAGE_LENGTH <= 10 |
| -m--merge | print all files in parallel, one in each column, truncate lines, but join lines of full length with -J |
| -n--number-lines | number lines, use DIGITS (5) digits, then SEP (TAB), default counting starts with 1st line of input file |
| -N--first-line-number | start counting with NUMBER at 1st line of first page printed (see +FIRST_PAGE) |
| -o--indent | offset each line with MARGIN (zero) spaces, do not affect -w or -W, MARGIN will be added to PAGE_WIDTH |
| -r--no-file-warnings | omit warning when a file cannot be opened |
| -s--separator | separate columns by a single character, default for CHAR is the <TAB> character without -w and 'no char' with -w. -s[CHAR] turns off line truncation of all 3 column options (-COLUMN|-a -COLUMN|-m) except -w is set |
| -S--sep-string | separate columns by STRING, without -S: Default separator <TAB> with -J and <space> otherwise (same as -S" "), no effect on column options |
| -t--omit-header | omit page headers and trailers; implied if PAGE_LENGTH <= 10 |
| -T--omit-pagination | omit page headers and trailers, eliminate any pagination by form feeds set in input files |
| -v--show-nonprinting | use octal backslash notation |
| -w--width | set page width to PAGE_WIDTH (72) characters for multiple text-column output only, -s[char] turns off (72) |
| -W--page-width | set page width to PAGE_WIDTH (72) characters always, truncate lines, except -J option is set, no interference with -S or -s |
| --help | display this help and exit |
| --version | output version information and exit |
NAME
pr - convert text files for printing
SYNOPSIS
pr [OPTION]... [FILE]...
DESCRIPTION
Paginate or columnate FILE(s) for printing.
With no FILE, or when FILE is -, read standard input.
Mandatory arguments to long options are mandatory for short options too.
- +FIRST_PAGE[:LAST_PAGE], --pages=FIRST_PAGE[:LAST_PAGE]
begin [stop] printing with page FIRST_[LAST_]PAGE
- -COLUMN, --columns=COLUMN
output COLUMN columns and print columns down, unless -a is used. Balance number of lines in the columns on each page
- -a, --across
print columns across rather than down, used together with -COLUMN
- -c, --show-control-chars
use hat notation (^G) and octal backslash notation
- -d, --double-space
double space the output
- -D, --date-format=FORMAT
use FORMAT for the header date
- -e[CHAR[WIDTH]], --expand-tabs[=CHAR[WIDTH]]
expand input CHARs (TABs) to tab WIDTH (8)
- -F, -f, --form-feed
use form feeds instead of newlines to separate pages (by a 3-line page header with -F or a 5-line header and trailer without -F)
- -h, --header=HEADER
use a centered HEADER instead of filename in page header, -h "" prints a blank line, don't use -h""
- -i[CHAR[WIDTH]], --output-tabs[=CHAR[WIDTH]]
replace spaces with CHARs (TABs) to tab WIDTH (8)
- -J, --join-lines
merge full lines, turns off -W line truncation, no column alignment, --sep-string[=STRING] sets separators
- -l, --length=PAGE_LENGTH
set the page length to PAGE_LENGTH (66) lines (default number of lines of text 56, and with -F 63). implies -t if PAGE_LENGTH <= 10
- -m, --merge
print all files in parallel, one in each column, truncate lines, but join lines of full length with -J
- -n[SEP[DIGITS]], --number-lines[=SEP[DIGITS]]
number lines, use DIGITS (5) digits, then SEP (TAB), default counting starts with 1st line of input file
- -N, --first-line-number=NUMBER
start counting with NUMBER at 1st line of first page printed (see +FIRST_PAGE)
- -o, --indent=MARGIN
offset each line with MARGIN (zero) spaces, do not affect -w or -W, MARGIN will be added to PAGE_WIDTH
- -r, --no-file-warnings
omit warning when a file cannot be opened
- -s[CHAR], --separator[=CHAR]
separate columns by a single character, default for CHAR is the <TAB> character without -w and 'no char' with -w. -s[CHAR] turns off line truncation of all 3 column options (-COLUMN|-a -COLUMN|-m) except -w is set
- -S[STRING], --sep-string[=STRING]
separate columns by STRING, without -S: Default separator <TAB> with -J and <space> otherwise (same as -S" "), no effect on column options
- -t, --omit-header
omit page headers and trailers; implied if PAGE_LENGTH <= 10
- -T, --omit-pagination
omit page headers and trailers, eliminate any pagination by form feeds set in input files
- -v, --show-nonprinting
use octal backslash notation
- -w, --width=PAGE_WIDTH
set page width to PAGE_WIDTH (72) characters for multiple text-column output only, -s[char] turns off (72)
- -W, --page-width=PAGE_WIDTH
set page width to PAGE_WIDTH (72) characters always, truncate lines, except -J option is set, no interference with -S or -s
- --help
display this help and exit
- --version
output version information and exit
AUTHOR
Written by Pete TerMaat and Roland Huebner.
REPORTING BUGS
GNU coreutils online help: <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/> Report any translation bugs to <https://translationproject.org/team/>
SEE ALSO
Full documentation <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/pr> or available locally via: info '(coreutils) pr invocation'
Packaged by Debian (9.7-3) Copyright © 2025 Free Software Foundation, Inc. License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later <https://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>. This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it. There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.