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)