---
name: "pr"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "coreutils"
version: "9.12-2"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "openbsd", "macos"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/pr"
---

# pr(1)

convert text files for printing

## 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

- **-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

## AUTHOR

Written by Pete TerMaat and Roland Huebner.

## REPORTING BUGS

Report bugs to: \<bug-coreutils@gnu.org\>.\
 Report any translation bugs to: \<https://translationproject.org/team/\>.\
 GNU coreutils home page: \<https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/\>\
 General help using GNU software: \<https://www.gnu.org/gethelp/\>

## COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2026 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.

## SEE ALSO

Full documentation \<https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/pr\>\
 or available locally via: info '(coreutils) pr invocation'