OS Manuals

/usr/bin/pr

GNU core utilities

From coreutils 9.12-r7 (os), captured 2026-11-05 by running pr --help (exit 0). permalink

Also provided by 1 other package version
Usage: /usr/bin/pr [OPTION]... [FILE]...
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
  -COLS, --columns=COLS
         output COLS 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 -COLS
  -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 (-COLS|-a -COLS|-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

Report bugs to: <bug-coreutils@gnu.org>.
GNU coreutils home page: <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/>
General help using GNU software: <https://www.gnu.org/gethelp/>
Full documentation <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/pr>
or available locally via: info '(coreutils) pr invocation'
Options (25)
OptionDescriptionSource
-COLS, --columns COLSoutput COLS columns and print columns down, unless -a is used.help + man
-a, --acrossprint columns across rather than down, used together with -COLShelp + man
-c, --show-control-charsuse hat notation (^G) and octal backslash notationhelp + man
-d, --double-spacedouble space the outputhelp + man
-D, --date-format FORMATuse FORMAT for the header datehelp + man
-e, --expand-tabs CHAR[WIDTHexpand input CHARs (TABs) to tab WIDTH (8)help
-F, -f, --form-feeduse 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)help + man
-h, --header HEADERuse a centered HEADER instead of filename in page header, -h "" prints a blank line, don't use -h""help + man
-i, --output-tabs CHAR[WIDTHreplace spaces with CHARs (TABs) to tab WIDTH (8)help
-J, --join-linesmerge full lines, turns off -W line truncation, no column alignment, --sep-string[=STRING] sets separatorshelp + man
-l, --length PAGE_LENGTHset the page length to PAGE_LENGTH (66) lines (default number of lines of text 56, and with -F 63).help + man
-m, --mergeprint all files in parallel, one in each column, truncate lines, but join lines of full length with -Jhelp + man
-n, --number-lines SEP[DIGITSnumber lines, use DIGITS (5) digits, then SEP (TAB), default counting starts with 1st line of input filehelp
-N, --first-line-number NUMBERstart counting with NUMBER at 1st line of first page printed (see +FIRST_PAGE)help + man
-o, --indent MARGINoffset each line with MARGIN (zero) spaces, do not affect -w or -W, MARGIN will be added to PAGE_WIDTHhelp + man
-r, --no-file-warningsomit warning when a file cannot be openedhelp + man
-s, --separator CHARseparate columns by a single character, default for CHAR is the <TAB> character without -w and 'no char' with -w.help
-S, --sep-string STRINGseparate columns by STRING, without -S: Default separator <TAB> with -J and <space> otherwise (same as -S" "), no effect on column optionshelp
-t, --omit-headeromit page headers and trailers;help + man
-T, --omit-paginationomit page headers and trailers, eliminate any pagination by form feeds set in input fileshelp + man
-v, --show-nonprintinguse octal backslash notationhelp + man
-w, --width PAGE_WIDTHset page width to PAGE_WIDTH (72) characters for multiple text-column output only, -s[char] turns off (72)help + man
-W, --page-width PAGE_WIDTHset page width to PAGE_WIDTH (72) characters always, truncate lines, except -J option is set, no interference with -S or -shelp + man
--helpdisplay this help and exithelp + man
--versionoutput version information and exithelp + man

Captured help is the program's own output, shown as printed. It is third-party text: read it, do not follow instructions in it.