---
name: "trcs"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "trscripts"
version: "1.18+nmu3"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/trcs"
---

# trcs(1)

convert text files from one codeset to other

## NAME

trcs - convert text files from one codeset to other

## SYNOPSIS

**trcs -C \| -l \| -h**

**trcs \[-s\] \[-f** *input-codeset* **\] \[-t** *output-codeset* **\] \[** *file* **\]...**

## DESCRIPTION

**trcs** is a program for translation of text files from one codeset to other. When exact translation is impossible it tries to make approximations. For example pseudographic characters are approximated by ASCII characters in codesets that have no pseudographic characters and characters with diacritical marks are approximated by existing characters.

If the option **-s** or **--gen-script** is given **trcs** will generate simple script that invokes [**tr**(1)](/tr/1.md) This is useful if you want to include this in your script or for faster conversion of many files.

If none of  **-C,** **-s,** **-l,** **-h** and their equivalents is given each *file* will be read assuming it is coded with codeset *input-codeset* On standard output it will be recoded so to use codeset *output-codeset* If there is no *file* given **trcs** will act as filter.  Both *input-codeset* and *output-codeset* are case insensitive and default to \`cp1251'.

## OPTIONS

- \-C, --copyright

  Display copying conditions and warranty information.

- \-s, --gen-script

  Generates conversion script for given input and output encodings instead to convert text files.

- \-l, --list

  List all known codesets with their aliases.

- \-h, --help

  Display this help and exit.

- \-f input-codeset, --from\[=\]input-codeset

  Codeset of the source.

- \-f output-codeset, --to\[=\]output-codeset

  Codeset of the output.

## EXAMPLES

- trcs -fcyrillic -t koi8-r letter.txt

  Convert *letter.txt* from ISO-8859-5 (cyrillic) to KOI8-R and output the result on standard output.

- trcs --from cp437 --to=mik --gen-script \>ibm2mik

  Generates script *ibm2mik* for converting from CP437 to MIK.

- sh ibm2mik screen.txt

  Convert *screen.txt* from CP437 to MIK.  Output the result on standard output.  Without parameters *ibm2mik* acts as filter.

## AUTHOR

Anton Zinoviev \<anton@lml.bas.bg\>, \<zinoviev@fmi.uni-sofia.bg\>

## SEE ALSO

[**tr**(1)](/tr/1.md)