---
name: "troff2rtf"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "troffcvt"
version: "1.04+repack1-1"
release: "Debian 12 (Bookworm)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/troff2rtf"
---

# troff2rtf(1)

convert troff documents to Rich Text Format

## NAME

troff2rtf - convert *troff* documents to Rich Text Format

## SYNTAX

**troff2rtf** \[ **-m***xx* \] \[ **-S** *charset* \] \[ *file* ... \]

## DESCRIPTION

*troff2rtf* processes documents written to be formatted with *troff* (or *nroff*, or any of the other *\*roff* variants) and converts them to Rich Text Format. RTF is a reasonably portable interchange standard; files in RTF format can be read by a variety of applications, e.g., Microsoft Word, WordPerfect (Macintosh version 2.0 and up), WriteNow.

The main use for *troff2rtf* is to make it easier to transport *troff* documents for use with microcomputers. First, convert your document to RTF:

`% troff2rtf [`*options*`] file > file.rtf`

The available options are described below. The one you'll most likely use is **-m***xx* to specify a macro package like **-me** or **-ms**. If the document contains tables, the conversion can be done like this instead:

`% tblcvt file | troff2rtf [`*options*`] > file.rtf`

Then move the RTF file to your target machine and read it into your document processor.

Optional flags may be given to modify the operation of *troff2rtf*, as follows:

- **-m***xx*

  Specify macro package, usually **-man**, **-me**, **-mm**, or **-ms**.

- **-S *charset***

  Specify the RTF character set. *charset* can be one of the following: **ansi** **mac** **pc** **pca**. The default is the Macintosh character set. For documents that you intend to use under Windows, **-S** **ansi** is a better choice.

## SEE ALSO

[**tblcvt**(1)](/tblcvt/1.md), [**troffcvt**(1)](/troffcvt/1.md)

## WHO-TO-BLAME

Paul DuBois, *dubois@primate.wisc.edu* .

## BUGS

Table output generated when *troff2rtf* is used in concert with *tblcvt* has been known to crash Word outright; caution may be in order. In addition, you may need to read the resulting RTF document into a word processor and tweak column widths manually.

Word97 adds support for vertically merging table cells (using the **\\clvmgf** and **\\clvmrg** control words). *troff2rtf* supports vertical spans using these controls, but earlier versions of Word don't yet understand them. Consequently, what you'll see for *n*-cell vertical spans is *n* individual cells, with all the text in the top cell and *n*-1 empty cells below it.