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

# troffcvt(1)

troff-to-XXX converter

## NAME

troffcvt - *troff*-to-XXX converter

## SYNTAX

**troffcvt** \[ *options* \] *file* ...

## DESCRIPTION

*troffcvt* converts *troff* input into an intermediate form that is easier to interpret than raw *troff* language. This intermediate form can then be used by postprocessors like *tc2html* or *tc2rtf* to produce final output in a target format such as HTML or RTF.

*troffcvt* understands the options listed below. Except as noted, options must be specified before the first input file named on the command line.

- **-A**

  Normally, *troffcvt* reads the default action file before reading any action or macro files named on the command line using the **-a** or **-m** options. If **-A** is specified, *troffcvt* doesn't read the default action file. This option is rarely used, but it can be helpful when you want to try out a modified default file.

- **-a***file,* **-a** *file*

  Read the given action file. **-a** may also be specified in the input file part of the argument list.

- **-C**

  Turn on *groff*-style compatibility mode. Specifically, this option disables recognition of long (\> 2 character) request and macro names, and special character, register, string, font, and macro argument references of the forms **\\\[***xxx***\],** **\\n\[***xxx***\],** **\\\*\[***xxx***\],** **\\f\[***xxx***\],** and **\\$\[***nnn***\].**

-

  If **-C** is specified, compatibility mode is turned on when the first input file is about to be read. (Macro packages specified with **-m** may turn on compatibility mode themselves, of course. However, compatibility mode is always turned off while action files are read.)

- **-d***N,* **-d** *N*

  Turn on debugging flag *N*. The flags are listed in *troffcvt.h*. If **-d** is not followed by a number, all flags are turned on.

- **-l**

  Generate **\\line** controls in the output to indicate the point at which each input line was read. These controls have the following form:

  ```
  \line filename linenumber
  ```

  where *filename* is the current input filename and *linenumber* is the current input line in that file.

- **-m***xx*

  Read the given macro package (e.g., **-man**, **-ms**) before the input files are read.

- **-r***N,* **-r** *N*

  Specify a resolution of *N* units per inch. The default is 432 units/inch.

- **-t***formatter-type,* **-t** *formatter-type*

  Specify a formatter type that *troffcvt* should try to act like. Valid *formatter-type* values are:

  - **nroff**

    Act like *nroff*

  - **troff**

    Act like *troff*

-

  This option has little effect on *troffcvt*'s behavior other than to determine the result of the **.if** **t** and **.if** **n** conditionals.

*troffcvt* finds action files by looking in the following locations:

- •

  The current directory.

- •

  The *troffcvt* library directory, */usr/share/troffcvt*.

*troffcvt* finds macro packages by looking in the following locations:

- •

  The directories named by the **TROFFCVT\_TMAC\_PATH** environment variable, if that variable is set. **TROFFCVT\_TMAC\_PATH** consists of one or more directories, separated by colons.

- •

  The directory named by the **TROFFCVT\_LIB\_DIR** environment variable, if that variable is set.

- •

  The current directory.

- •

  The compiled-in *troffcvt* library directory */usr/share/troffcvt*. This allows you to override a system macro package by placing a different version in the *troffcvt* library.

- •

  The system macro directory (e.g., */usr/lib/tmac* or */usr/share/groff/tmac*).

Macro and action files specified with **-m** and **-a** prior to the first input file are processed in order before the first input file is read. Once the initial options have been read and processed, *troffcvt* reads the input files, or the standard input if no files are read. The name **-** may be used to refer explicitly to the standard input. **-a** may be used to intersperse action files with input files in this part of the argument list. For example:

% troffcvt -ms mymacros -a tc.mymacros mydoc

## DIAGNOSTICS

If *troffcvt* cannot open a macro file, you will see this message:

`cannot open macro file -m`*xx*

This message is fatal.

If *troffcvt* cannot open an action file, you will see this message:

`cannot open action file <`*xx*`>`

This message usually indicates a problem, but is not fatal (except for the default action file *actions*, which must be available for *troffcvt* to do anything at all). If you still get reasonable output, you can ignore it. To make the message go away, create an empty file named *xx* in any of the directories in which *troffcvt* looks for action files. If you don't get reasonable output, then a non-empty file needs to be created that redefines the macros that confuse *troffcvt*.

## FILES

*/usr/share/troffcvt*	*troffcvt* library directory

## WHO-TO-BLAME

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

## SEE ALSO

[**tc2html**(1)](/tc2html/1.md), [**tc2rtf**(1)](/tc2rtf/1.md), [**tc2text**(1)](/tc2text/1.md), [**troff2html**(1)](/troff2html/1.md), [**troff2rtf**(1)](/troff2rtf/1.md), [**unroff**(1)](/unroff/1.md).

*troffcvt - Notes, Bugs, Deficiencies*.

## BUGS

There are many. See the document *troffcvt - Notes, Bugs, Deficiencies*.