Man Linux: Main Page and Category List

NAME

       mp - POSTSCRIPT pretty printer

SYNOPSIS

       mp [ -a4 ] [ -addhdr type ] [ -alias name ] [ -allhdrs ] [ -article ] [
       -bottom # ] [ -bsdprint ] [ -chars # ] [ -columns # ] [ -config name  ]
       [ -content ] [ -copies # ] [ -digest ] [ -elm ] [ -flip ] [ -folder ] [
       -forcepage ] [ -from ] [  -help  ]  [  -landscape  ]  [  -left  #  ]  [
       -linelength  #  ]  [  -modtime  ]  [  -name  appname  ]  [ -newpage ] [
       -nobanners ] [ -noburstpage ] [ -number ] [ -onesided  ]  [  -organiser
       type  ] [ -pagelength # ] [ -portrait ] [ -postscript ] [ -printer name
       ] [ -prologue name ] [ -remhdr type ] [ -right # ] [ -subject text ]  [
       -tab  #  ]  [  -text  ]  [ -top # ] [ -tumble ] [ -twosided ] [ -us ] [
       -version ] [ -words # ] [ -wrap ] [ filename ...  ]

       The version of mp installed at your site might also support the command
       line options from the previous version. These are:

       mp  [ -A4 ] [ -F ] [ -PS ] [ -US ] [ -a ] [ -d ] [ -e ] [ -f ] [ -l ] [
       -m ] [ -o ] [ -p prologue ] [ -s subject ] [ -tm ] [ -ts ] [ -v ] [  -?
       ] [ filename ...  ]

       Use  the  -help  command  line option to determine if these options are
       supported.

DESCRIPTION

       The mp  program  reads  each  filename  in  sequence  and  generates  a
       prettified version of the contents in POSTSCRIPT format. By default the
       output is sent to standard output. If you  use  one  of  the  different
       names, output is sent direct to the printer.

       The  program  will  use  the PRINTER or LPDEST environment variables to
       determine which printer the output is sent to.

       If no filename argument is provided, mp reads the standard  input.   If
       the standard input is a terminal, input is terminated by an EOF signal,
       usually Ctrl-D.

       Mail items, news articles, ordinary ASCII files, complete mail folders,
       and digests are all acceptable input formats for mp.  The output format
       includes grayscale lozenges containing banner information  at  the  top
       and bottom of every page.

       The  program  is conveniently used in conjunction with the print button
       of the SunView/xnews(1)  mailtool(1)  programs,  or  the  pipe  command
       provided by mail(1).  Add the following two lines to your .mailrc file:
                 set printmail=’mp -printer’
                 set cmd="mp -printer &"

       Source the .mailrc file, and you are ready to  use  mp.   For  printing
       ordinary  ASCII files, the following alias (to be placed in your .cshrc
       file) may also prove useful:
                 alias print ’mp -text -printer -subject "\!*" <\!*’

OPTIONS

       -a4    Use A4 paper size (8.5 x 11.4 inches). The default paper size is
              none, in which case mp will try to fill the paper.

       -addhdr type
              Add type to the list of mail or news headers to be printed.

       -alias name
              The  user name alias that should be printed out in the mp banner
              heading, to show who the output is for. This will  override  the
              NAME  environment  variable  and the users entry in the password
              file.

       -allhdrs
              If set, then print out all mail or news headers.

       -article
              Format the file as a news article.  The top banner contains  the
              text:  "Article  from  newsgroup ", where newsgroup is the first
              news group found on the Newsgroups: line. By default, the  input
              files are assumed to be mail messages.

       -bottom #
              The  size  (in points) for the bottom margin on each page. There
              are approximately 72 points per inch. The  default  value  is  8
              points.

       -bsdprint
              If  set,  then  assume  this  is  a  BSD  system,  and  use  the
              appropriate print command, and command line options. The default
              value for this option is false.

       -chars #
              The maximum number of characters to extract from the gecos field
              of the users /etc/passwd entry. The default is 40.

       -columns #
              Number of columns of output per page. This value  will  override
              the default value in the prologue file.

       -config name
              The  name  of  an alternate X resource configuration file, which
              will be read  by  mp  at  startup  time.  The  default  name  is
              $HOME/.mpdefaults

       -content
              Instead  of  using  "\nFrom"  to  denote  the  start of new mail
              messages, mp will look for (and use) the value of  the  Content-
              Length:  mail  header. If the Content-Length doesn’t take you to
              the next "\nFrom", then it’s wrong, and mp falls back to looking
              for the next "\nFrom" in the mail folder.

       -copies #
              Number  of copies of each file to output. This option only works
              when the filenames to print are given on the command  line.  The
              default number of copies is 1.

       -digest
              Format the file as a digest.

       -elm   Assume the ELM mail frontend intermediate file format. Used when
              printing messages from  within  ELM  (using  the  "p"  command),
              especially  for  printing  tagged  messages. This option must be
              specified in your ELM option setup.

       -flip  Flip the top and bottom banners on the output. By  default,  the
              banners are not flipped.

       -folder
              Format the file as a mail folder, printing multiple messages. By
              default, this option is not set.

       -forcepage
              Always start a new page (rather  than  a  new  column)  when  in
              landscape or multi-page personal organiser mode.

       -from  Instead  of printing who the mail article is for, the top header
              will contain who the mail article is from. A useful  option  for
              people with their own personal printer.

       -help  Print the usage message for mp

       -landscape
              Format  output  in  landscape  mode.   Two pages of text will be
              printed per sheet of  paper.  By  default,  output  will  be  in
              portrait mode.

       -left #
              The size (in points) for the left margin on each page. There are
              approximately 72 points per inch. The default value is 8 points.

       -linelength #
              Maximum  number of characters on each line of output. This value
              will override the default value in the prologue file.

       -modtime
              Use the files last modification time (rather  than  the  current
              time) in the mp banner. Note that this only works when the files
              are supplied on the command line (as opposed to standard input).

       -name appname
              Use   this   name,   when  looking  for  X  resources  for  this
              application.

       -newpage
              Always start a new  sheet  of  paper  for  each  new  file  when
              printing in duplex mode.

       -nobanners
              Don’t  print  a  header  and  a  footer  banner on each page. By
              default, banners will be printed.

       -noburstpage
              If the output is destined for a printer, than  the  printing  of
              the  burst  page  is  disabled.  Most  of  the  information that
              typically appears on the burst page sheet is output  in  the  mp
              banners. By default, a burst page will be printed.

       -number
              Print  the  line  number on each line output. This option is not
              set by default.

       -onesided
              Print the output in simplex (one-sided) mode. The default is  to
              print in duplex (two-sided) mode.

       -organiser type
              Format  the  file  for use with the given organiser type.  Valid
              organiser types are filofax, franklin, proplan, timeman,  tsintl
              and tspartner

       -pagelength #
              Maximum  number of lines on each page of output. This value will
              override the default value in the prologue file.

       -portrait
              Format output in portait mode.  One page of text will be printed
              per sheet of paper. This is the default value.

       -printer name
              Send  output  to the named printer. Otherwise send output to the
              printer named in the PRINTER or LPDEST environment variables.

       -ps    If the mail or digest message just has PostScript as the text of
              the message, then this is normally just passed straight through.
              Specifying this option, causes PostScript to be printed as text.

       -prologue name
              Employ the file name as the POSTSCRIPT prologue file, overriding
              any previously defined file names.

       -remhdr type
              Add type to the list of mail or news headers which will  not  be
              printed.

       -right #
              The  size  (in  points) for the right margin on each page. There
              are approximately 72 points per inch. The  default  value  is  8
              points.

       -subject text
              Use    text  as  the  new  subject  for the printout. If you are
              printing ordinary ASCII files which have been specified  on  the
              command  line,  the  subject will default to the name of each of
              these files. Note that as mp automatically assumes  the  default
              input  file  format is a mail file, you will have to include the
              -text command line option to make this happen.

       -tab # The  number  of  spaces  to  output  when  encountering  a   tab
              character. The default value is 8.

       -text  Format  the file as an ordinary ASCII text file. By default, the
              file is assumed to be a mail message.

       -top # The size (in points) for the top margin on each page. There  are
              approximately 72 points per inch. The default value is 8 points.

       -tumble
              If printing in duplex mode, adjust the alignment of the  reverse
              page. By default, the reverse page is not tumbled.

       -twosided
              Print  the  output  in  duplex  (two-sided)  mode.  This  is the
              default. This obviously only works if the printer is capable  of
              printing on both sides of the paper.

       -us    Use  US  paper size (8.5 x 11 inches). The default paper size is
              none, in which case mp will try to fill the paper.

       -version
              Print the version number of this release of mp.

       -words #
              The maximum number of words to extract from the gecos  field  of
              the users /etc/passwd entry. The default is 3.

       -wrap  Wrap words onto the next line of output. By default, this option
              is not set.

RESOURCES

       On startup, mp will use the following X resources which by default  are
       stored  in  $HOME/.mpdefaults.   Note  these  resource  names  will  be
       prepended with the running application name  (mp,  newsp,  mailp  ...).
       This  means that you can have different sets of resources for each type
       of program.

       Resource:      addHeaders
       Values:        Headers to add (string)
       Description    A comma separated list of  the  extra  headers  that  mp
                      should print out.

       Resource:      aliasName
       Values:        Text string (NULL).
       Description    The user name alias that should be printed out in the mp
                      banner heading, to show who the output is for. This will
                      override  the  NAME  environment  variable and the users
                      entry in the password file.

       Resource:      allHeaders
       Values:        True, False (False)
       Description    If set to true,  then  all  mail  or  news  headers  are
                      printed out.

       Resource:      bottomMargin
       Values:        positive integer (8)
       Description    The size (in points) for the bottom margin on each page.
                      There are approximately 72 points per inch.

       Resource:      bsdPrinter
       Values:        True, False (False)
       Description    If set to true, then it is assumed that this  is  a  BSD
                      system,  and the appropriate printer command and command
                      line options are used.

       Resource:      copies
       Values:        positive integer (1)
       Description    The number of copies to be printed for each file.

       Resource:      doubleSided
       Values:        True, False (True)
       Description    Determines whether the output will  be  printed  on  one
                      side of the paper or two. Obviously for two-sided output
                      to work, the printer has to support it.

       Resource:      elmMail
       Values:        True, False (False)
       Description    If  set  to  true,  assumes  the   ELM   mail   frontend
                      intermediate file format.

       Resource:      fileType
       Values:        Mail, News, Postscript or Text (Mail)
       Description    Describes  the  type  of the input file to be processed.
                      Either mail messages, news articles, pure PostScript  or
                      plain text files.

       Resource:      flipBanners
       Values:        True, False (False)
       Description    If  set to true, flips the top and bottom banners on the
                      output.

       Resource:      forcePage
       Values:        True, False (False)
       Description    If set to true, always starts a new page (rather than  a
                      new  column)  when  in  landscape or multi-page personal
                      organiser mode.

       Resource:      leftMargin
       Values:        positive integer (8)
       Description    The size (in points) for the left margin on  each  page.
                      There are approximately 72 points per inch.

       Resource:      lineLength
       Values:        positive integer (80)
       Description    The maximum number of characters printed on each line.

       Resource:      mailDigest
       Values:        True, False (False)
       Description    If  set to true then mp assumes the input is in the form
                      of a mail digest.

       Resource:      mailFolder
       Values:        True, False (False)
       Description    If set to true then mp  assumes  the  input  is  a  file
                      containing  more  then  one  mail message, and processes
                      (and prints) each in turn.

       Resource:      nameChars
       Values:        1-255 (40)
       Description    The maximum number of characters  to  extract  from  the
                      gecos field of the users /etc/passwd entry.

       Resource:      nameWords
       Values:        1-255 (3)
       Description    The  maximum  number  of words to extract from the gecos
                      field of the users /etc/passwd entry.

       Resource:      newPage
       Values:        True, False (False)
       Description    If set to true, and printing  duplex  (two-sided),  then
                      printing  of  each new file is started on a new sheet of
                      paper.

       Resource:      numberColumns
       Values:        positive integer (1)
       Description    The number of columns of output  per  page.  This  value
                      will override the default value in the prologue file.

       Resource:      numberLines
       Values:        True, False (False)
       Description    If  set to true then mp will number each line of output.

       Resource:      organiserType
       Values:        Filofax, Franklin, Proplan, Timeman, Tsintl or Tspartner
       Description    Describes the personal organiser output format.

       Resource:      outputType
       Values:        Portrait, Landscape or Organiser (Portrait)
       Description    Describes  the  printed  output format. Either portrait,
                      landscape or  one  of  the  special  personal  organiser
                      formats.

       Resource:      pageLength
       Values:        positive integer (66)
       Description    The maximum number of lines printed on each page.

       Resource:      paperSize
       Values:        None, A4 or US (None)
       Description    Describes  the  size of the paper the the output will be
                      printed on.

       Resource:      printHeaderPage
       Values:        True, False (False)
       Description    If set to true then a burst banner page will be  printed
                      at the beginning of the mp output.

       Resource:      printerName
       Values:        Text string (NULL)
       Description    The name of the printer to send output to. If no name is
                      supplied, then mp will use the default printer.

       Resource:      prologueName
       Values:        UNIX pathname (NULL)
       Description    Use  this  as  the  prologue  filename  overriding   any
                      previously defined file names.

       Resource:      removeHeaders
       Values:        Headers to remove (string)
       Description    A  comma  separated list of the standard headers that mp
                      should not print out.

       Resource:      rightMargin
       Values:        positive integer (8)
       Description    The size (in points) for the right margin on each  page.
                      There are approximately 72 points per inch.

       Resource:      subject
       Values:        Text string (NULL)
       Description    The  subject  that will be printed out in the banner for
                      each file printed.

       Resource:      tabSize
       Values:        positive integer (8)
       Description    The number of spaces to output when encountering  a  tab
                      character.

       Resource:      topMargin
       Values:        positive integer (8)
       Description    The  size  (in  points) for the top margin on each page.
                      There are approximately 72 points per inch.

       Resource:      tumble
       Values:        True, False (False)
       Description    If set to true and printing in duplex mode,  adjust  the
                      alignment of the reverse page.

       Resource:      useContent
       Values:        True, False (False)
       Description    If  set to true, instead of using "\nFrom" to denote the
                      start of new mail messages, mp will look for  (and  use)
                      the  value  of  the  Content-Length: mail header. If the
                      Content-Length doesn’t take you to  the  next  "\nFrom",
                      then  it’s  wrong,  and mp falls back to looking for the
                      next "\nFrom" in the mail folder.

       Resource:      useFrom
       Values:        True, False (False)
       Description    If set to true, instead of printing who the mail article
                      is for, the top header will contain who the mail article
                      is from. A useful  option  for  people  with  their  own
                      personal printer.

       Resource:      useModTime
       Values:        True, False (False)
       Description    If  set  to  true,  use the files last modification time
                      (rather than the current time) in the mp banner.

       Resource:      wrapWords
       Values:        True, False (False)
       Description    If set to true, wrap words onto the next line of output.

ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES

       The  default  output  printer  is  determined by looking at the PRINTER
       environment variable for BSD systems or the LPDEST environment variable
       for System V systems.
       An alternative file containing the mp X resources can be given with the
       MPDEFAULTS environment variable.
       The mp prologue file is determined by first looking for the environment
       variable  MP_PROLOGUE,  which specifies the directory where mp prologue
       files are to be found.  If MP_PROLOGUE is not found, then  the  default
       directory is assumed (LIBDIR/mp.pro.ps).

SUPPLIED PROLOGUE FILES

       The following prologue files are provided:
              mp.pro.ps
                     Used by default
              mp.pro.l.ps
                     Used by the -landscape landscape mode option
              mp.pro.ff.ps
                     Used if the -filofax option is in effect
              mp.pro.fp.ps
                     Used if the -franklin option is in effect
              mp.pro.pp.ps
                     Used if the -proplan option is in effect
              mp.pro.tm.ps
                     Used if the -timeman option is in effect
              mp.pro.tsi.ps
                     Used if the -tsintl option is in effect
              mp.pro.tsp.ps
                     Used if the -tspartner option is in effect
              mp.pro.alt.ps
                     An  alternative modification of the default prologue file
                     which outputs the page number in the right corner of  the
                     bottom banner.
              mp.pro.altl.ps
                     An alternative landscape option mode prologue file.

FILES

       .cshrc initialization file for csh(1)
       .mailrc
              initialization file for mail(1)
       $HOME/.mpdefaults
              X resource initialisation file.
       BINDIR/mp
              executable
       LIBDIR/mp.pro.ps
              POSTSCRIPT prologue for mail printing
       LIBDIR/mp.pro.l.ps
              POSTSCRIPT prologue for landscape format
       LIBDIR/mp.pro.alt.ps
              alternative  "default" POSTSCRIPT prologue, inserts page numbers
              in the bottom right corner of each page
       LIBDIR/mp.pro.altl.ps
              alternative "landscape" POSTSCRIPT prologue.
       LIBDIR/mp.pro.ff.ps
              POSTSCRIPT prologue for Filofax format
       LIBDIR/mp.pro.fp.ps
              POSTSCRIPT prologue for Franklin Planner format.
       LIBDIR/mp.pro.tm.ps
              POSTSCRIPT prologue for Time Manager format
       LIBDIR/mp.pro.tsi.ps
              POSTSCRIPT prologue for Time/System (International) format
       LIBDIR/mp.pro.tsp.ps
              POSTSCRIPT prologue for Time/System (Partner) format

SEE ALSO

       mail(1), mailtool(1), xnews(1)

AUTHORS

       Original version by Steve Holden.
       Converted to C then C++, modified and maintained by Rich Burridge,  Sun
       Microsystems Inc.
       Original  modified  to  handle  net  news articles and MH mail by Bruno
       Pillard, Chorus Systemes, France.
       Handling of mail  digests  added  by  Dave  Glowacki  of  Public  Works
       Computer Services, St Paul, MN.
       Original  manual page revised by Rick Rodgers, UCSF School of Pharmacy,
       San Francicso.
       Support  for  Personal  Organiser  printing  style  added  by   Douglas
       Buchanan, Sun Microsystems Europe.
       Substantial  modifications to header parsing by Jeremy Webber, Computer
       Science Department, University of Adelaide, Australia.
       Support for printing multiple files and subject line filename print for
       ordinary ASCII files added by Sam Manoharan, Edinburgh University.
       Support for landscape mode written by Michael Tuchiarone.
       Revision  of  the  POSTSCRIPT structuring and the way that the prologue
       files are handled was included by Johan Vromans.
       New style POSTSCRIPT prologue files by John Macdonald.
       Support for the ISO8859 character set by Bertrand DeCouty.
       Rich Burridge.  MAIL: Rich.Burridge@Sun.Com

                                 12 April 2002                           MP(1)