---
name: "pdfmom"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "groff"
version: "1.24.2-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/pdfmom"
---

# pdfmom(1)

produce PDF documents using the mom macro package for groff

## Name

pdfmom - produce PDF documents using the *mom* macro package for *groff*

## Synopsis

**pdfmom** \[**--roff**\] \[**-Tpdf**\] \[*groff-options*\] \[*file* ...\]

**pdfmom** \[**--roff**\] **-Tps** \[*pdfroff-options*\] \[*groff-options*\] \[*file* ...\]

**pdfmom** **-v**

**pdfmom** **--version**

## Description

*pdfmom* is a wrapper around [*groff*(1)](/groff/1.md) that facilitates the production of PDF documents from files formatted with the *mom* macros.

If the **--roff** option is used, the wrapper can be used with macro packages other than [*groff\_mom*(7)](/groff_mom/7.md). This is also true if the wrapper is renamed or linked as a pseudonym; for example, creating a *pdfms* link pointing to the *pdfmom* executable makes a wrapper for producing PDFs with the *ms* package.

*pdfmom* prints to the standard output, so output must usually be redirected to a destination file. The size of the final PDF can be reduced by piping the output through [*ps2pdf*(1)](/ps2pdf/1.md).

If called with the **-Tpdf** option (which is the default), *pdfmom* processes files using *groff*'s native PDF driver, [*gropdf*(1)](/gropdf/1.md). If **-Tps** is given, processing is passed over to *pdfroff*, which uses *groff*'s PostScript driver. In either case, multiple runs of the source file are performed in order to satisfy any forward references in the document.

*pdfmom* accepts all the same options as *groff*. If **-Tps** is given, the options associated with *pdfroff* are accepted as well. When *pdfmom* calls *pdfroff*, the options “**-mpdfmark -mom --no-toc**” options are implied and should not be given on the command line. Equally, it is not necessary to supply the **-mom** or **-m mom** options when **-Tps** is absent.

PDF integration with the *mom* macros is discussed in full in the manual “Producing PDFs with *groff* and *mom*”, which was itself produced with *pdfmom*.

If called with the **-v** or **--version** options, *pdfmom* displays its version information and exits. Using the **--help** option displays a usage message and exits.

## Authors

*pdfmom* was written by Deri James ⟨deri@\\:chuzzlewit\\:.myzen\\:.co\\:.uk⟩ and Peter Schaffter ⟨peter@\\:schaffter\\:.ca⟩, and is maintained by James.

## See also

- */usr/share/doc/groff-1.24.2/pdf/mom-pdf.pdf*

  “Producing PDFs with *groff* and *mom*”, by Deri James and Peter Schaffter. This file, together with its source, *mom-pdf.mom*, is part of the *groff* distribution.

[*groff*(1)](/groff/1.md), [*gropdf*(1)](/gropdf/1.md), [*pdfroff*(1)](/pdfroff/1.md), [*ps2pdf*(1)](/ps2pdf/1.md)