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<TITLE>mdocml | UNIX manpage compiler</TITLE>
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<P CLASS="head">
<B>mdocml</B> – UNIX manpage compiler, current version @VERSION@ (@VDATE@)
</P>
<P CLASS="subhead">
Sources: <A HREF="/snapshots/mdocml.tar.gz">current</A>,
<A HREF="/cgi-bin/cvsweb/?cvsroot=mdocml">cvsweb</A>
(<A HREF="/snapshots/">archives</A>)
|
Binaries: <A
HREF="/binaries/mdocml-win32.zip">windows 32-bit</A>, <A
HREF="/binaries/mdocml-win64.zip">windows 64-bit</A>, <A
HREF="/binaries/mdocml-macosx.zip">mac os x</A>
(<A HREF="/binaries/">archives</A>)
</P>
<H1>
<A NAME="description">Description</A>
</H1>
<P>
<SPAN CLASS="nm">mdocml</SPAN> is a suite of tools compiling <I><A HREF="mdoc.7.html">mdoc</A></I>, the roff macro
package of choice for BSD manual pages, and <I><A HREF="man.7.html">man</A></I>, the predominant historical package for
UNIX manuals. The mission of <SPAN CLASS="nm">mdocml</SPAN> is to deprecate <A
HREF="http://www.gnu.org/software/groff/" CLASS="external">groff</A>, the GNU troff implementation, for displaying <I>mdoc</I>
pages whilst providing token support for <I>man</I>.
</P>
<P>
Why? groff amounts to over 5 MB of source code, most of which is C++ and all of which is GPL. It runs slowly, produces
uncertain output, and varies in operation from system to system. mdocml strives to fix this (respectively small, C, <A
CLASS="external" HREF="http://www.isc.org/software/license">ISC</A>-licensed, fast and regular).
</P>
<P>
<SPAN CLASS="nm">mdocml</SPAN> consists of the <A HREF="mandoc.3.html">libmandoc</A> validating compiler and <A
HREF="mandoc.1.html">mandoc</A>, which interfaces with the compiler library to format output for UNIX terminals (with
support for wide-character locales), XHTML, HTML, PostScript, and PDF.
It also includes <A HREF="preconv.1.html">preconv</A>, for recoding multibyte manuals;
<A HREF="demandoc.1.html">demandoc</A>, for emitting only text parts of manuals;
<A HREF="mandocdb.8.html">mandocdb</A>, for indexing manuals; and
<A HREF="apropos.1.html">apropos</A>, <A HREF="whatis.1.html">whatis</A>, and
<A HREF="man.cgi.7.html">man.cgi</A> (via <A HREF="catman.8.html">catman</A>) for semantic search of manual content.
It is a <A CLASS="external" HREF="http://bsd.lv/">BSD.lv</A> project.
</P>
<P>
<I>Disambiguation</I>: <SPAN CLASS="nm">mdocml</SPAN> is often referred to by its installed binary, <Q>mandoc</Q>.
</P>
<H2>
<A NAME="sources">Sources</A>
</H2>
<P>
<SPAN CLASS="nm">mdocml</SPAN> is in plain-old ANSI C and should build and run on any modern system; however, you'll
need <A HREF="http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/database/berkeleydb/overview/index.html">libdb</A> to build <A
HREF="apropos.1.html">apropos</A>, <A HREF="whatis.1.html">whatis</A>, <A HREF="man.cgi.7.html">man.cgi</A>, <A
HREF="catman.8.html">catman</A>, and <A HREF="mandocdb.8.html">mandocdb</A> (this is installed by default on BSD UNIX
systems — see the <I>Makefile</I> if you're running Linux). To build and install into <I>/usr/local/</I>, just
run <CODE>make install</CODE>. Be careful: the <B>preconv</B>, <B>apropos</B>, and <B>whatis</B> binary names are
usually taken by existing utilities.
</P>
<H2>
<A NAME="binaries">Binaries</A>
</H2>
<P>
Binary archives consist of pre-compiled binaries, manuals, and other necessary files.
Universal (Mac OS X) binaries are compiled for the PCC, i386, and x86_64 architectures.
Windows binaries are compiled with <A CLASS="external" HREF="http://www.mingw.org">MingW</A> for the 32-bit (i686) and
64-bit (x86_64) architectures.
</P>
<H2>
Downstream
</H2>
<P>
Several systems come bundled with <SPAN CLASS="nm">mdocml</SPAN> utilities.
If your system does not appear below, the maintainers have not contacted me and it should not be considered
<Q>official</Q>.
Please <A HREF="#contact">contact us</A> if you plan on maintaining a downstream version!
</P>
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" SUMMARY="Downstream Sources">
<COL WIDTH="175">
<COL>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>DragonFly BSD</TD>
<TD>
<A HREF="http://gitweb.dragonflybsd.org/dragonfly.git/tree/HEAD:/usr.bin/mandoc"
CLASS="external">usr.bin/mandoc</A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD>FreeBSD</TD>
<TD>
<A HREF="http://www.freebsd.org/cgi/cvsweb.cgi/ports/textproc/mdocml/"
CLASS="external">ports/textproc/mdocml</A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD>NetBSD</TD>
<TD>
<A HREF="http://cvsweb.netbsd.org/bsdweb.cgi/src/external/bsd/mdocml/"
CLASS="external">src/external/bsd/mdocml</A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD>OpenBSD</TD>
<TD>
<A HREF="http://www.openbsd.org/cgi-bin/cvsweb/src/usr.bin/mandoc/"
CLASS="external">src/usr.bin/mandoc</A>
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD>pkgsrc</TD>
<TD>
<A HREF="http://pkgsrc.se/textproc/mdocml" CLASS="external">textproc/mdocml</A>
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
<H1>
<A NAME="documentation">Documentation</A>
</H1>
<P>
These manuals are generated automatically and refer to the current release.
They are the authoritative documentation for the <SPAN CLASS="nm">mdocml</SPAN> system.
</P>
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" SUMMARY="Documentation">
<COL WIDTH="175">
<COL>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="apropos.1.html">apropos(1)</A></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">
search the manual page database
(<A HREF="apropos.1.txt">text</A> |
<A HREF="apropos.1.xhtml">xhtml</A> |
<A HREF="apropos.1.pdf">pdf</A> |
<A HREF="apropos.1.ps">ps</A>)
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="demandoc.1.html">demandoc(1)</A></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">
emit only text of UNIX manuals
(<A HREF="demandoc.1.txt">text</A> |
<A HREF="demandoc.1.xhtml">xhtml</A> |
<A HREF="demandoc.1.pdf">pdf</A> |
<A HREF="demandoc.1.ps">ps</A>)
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="mandoc.1.html">mandoc(1)</A></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">
format and display UNIX manuals
(<A HREF="mandoc.1.txt">text</A> |
<A HREF="mandoc.1.xhtml">xhtml</A> |
<A HREF="mandoc.1.pdf">pdf</A> |
<A HREF="mandoc.1.ps">ps</A>)
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="preconv.1.html">preconv(1)</A></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">
recode multibyte UNIX manuals
(<A HREF="preconv.1.txt">text</A> |
<A HREF="preconv.1.xhtml">xhtml</A> |
<A HREF="preconv.1.pdf">pdf</A> |
<A HREF="preconv.1.ps">ps</A>)
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="whatis.1.html">whatis(1)</A></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">
search the manual page database
(<A HREF="whatis.1.txt">text</A> |
<A HREF="whatis.1.xhtml">xhtml</A> |
<A HREF="whatis.1.pdf">pdf</A> |
<A HREF="whatis.1.ps">ps</A>)
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="mandoc.3.html">mandoc(3)</A></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">
mandoc macro compiler library
(<A HREF="mandoc.3.txt">text</A> |
<A HREF="mandoc.3.xhtml">xhtml</A> |
<A HREF="mandoc.3.pdf">pdf</A> |
<A HREF="mandoc.3.ps">ps</A>)
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="man.7.html">man(7)</A></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">
man language reference
(<A HREF="man.7.txt">text</A> |
<A HREF="man.7.xhtml">xhtml</A> |
<A HREF="man.7.pdf">pdf</A> |
<A HREF="man.7.ps">ps</A>)
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="man.cgi.7.html">man.cgi(7)</A></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">
cgi for manpage query and display
(<A HREF="man.cgi.7.txt">text</A> |
<A HREF="man.cgi.7.xhtml">xhtml</A> |
<A HREF="man.cgi.7.pdf">pdf</A> |
<A HREF="man.cgi.7.ps">ps</A>)
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="eqn.7.html">eqn(7)</A></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">
eqn-mandoc language reference
(<A HREF="eqn.7.txt">text</A> |
<A HREF="eqn.7.xhtml">xhtml</A> |
<A HREF="eqn.7.pdf">pdf</A> |
<A HREF="eqn.7.ps">ps</A>)
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="mandoc_char.7.html">mandoc_char(7)</A></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">
mandoc special characters
(<A HREF="mandoc_char.7.txt">text</A> |
<A HREF="mandoc_char.7.xhtml">xhtml</A> |
<A HREF="mandoc_char.7.pdf">pdf</A> |
<A HREF="mandoc_char.7.ps">ps</A>)
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="mdoc.7.html">mdoc(7)</A></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">
mdoc language reference
(<A HREF="mdoc.7.txt">text</A> |
<A HREF="mdoc.7.xhtml">xhtml</A> |
<A HREF="mdoc.7.pdf">pdf</A> |
<A HREF="mdoc.7.ps">ps</A>)
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="roff.7.html">roff(7)</A></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">
roff-mandoc language reference
(<A HREF="roff.7.txt">text</A> |
<A HREF="roff.7.xhtml">xhtml</A> |
<A HREF="roff.7.pdf">pdf</A> |
<A HREF="roff.7.ps">ps</A>)
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="tbl.7.html">tbl(7)</A></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">
tbl-mandoc language reference
(<A HREF="tbl.7.txt">text</A> |
<A HREF="tbl.7.xhtml">xhtml</A> |
<A HREF="tbl.7.pdf">pdf</A> |
<A HREF="tbl.7.ps">ps</A>)
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="catman.8.html">catman(8)</A></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">
update a man.cgi manpage cache
(<A HREF="catman.8.txt">text</A> |
<A HREF="catman.8.xhtml">xhtml</A> |
<A HREF="catman.8.pdf">pdf</A> |
<A HREF="catman.8.ps">ps</A>)
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="mandocdb.8.html">mandocdb(8)</A></TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">
index UNIX manuals
(<A HREF="mandocdb.8.txt">text</A> |
<A HREF="mandocdb.8.xhtml">xhtml</A> |
<A HREF="mandocdb.8.pdf">pdf</A> |
<A HREF="mandocdb.8.ps">ps</A>)
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
<H1>
<A NAME="contact">Contact</A>
</H1>
<P>
Use the mailing lists for bug-reports, patches, questions, etc. Please check the
<A HREF="http://mdocml.bsd.lv/cgi-bin/cvsweb/TODO?cvsroot=mdocml">TODO</A> for known issues
before posting. All lists are subscription-only: send a blank e-mail to the listed address to subscribe. Beyond that,
contact Kristaps at <A HREF="http://mailhide.recaptcha.net/d?k=01M6h_w7twDp58ZgH57eWC_w==&c=Q2DBUt401ePlSeupJFrq_Q==" TITLE="Reveal
this e-mail address">kris...</A>@bsd.lv. Archives are available at <A HREF="http://gmane.org/" CLASS="external">Gmane</A>.
</P>
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" SUMMARY="Mailing Lists">
<COL WIDTH="175">
<COL>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
disc<A CLASS="external" TITLE="Reveal this e-mail address"
HREF="http://www.google.com/recaptcha/mailhide/d?k=01KQ80PFH5n3BBNpF5Gs4sRg==&c=EV1QytpQqTHSItc2IXvZyocgYLPnG5K0JKw_gwMC9yc=">...</A>@mdocml.bsd.lv
</TD>
<TD>
bug-reports, general questions, and announcements
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD>
tec<A CLASS="external" TITLE="Reveal this e-mail address"
HREF="http://www.google.com/recaptcha/mailhide/d?k=01qDX_iV0RlUOarEvb6mR28g==&c=gRXsTjza0NNCFPaYu-Taj2tF0pmYZSc90EZkFkhkxgo=">...</A>@mdocml.bsd.lv
</TD>
<TD>
patches and system discussions
</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
<TD>
sou<A CLASS="external" TITLE="Reveal this e-mail address"
HREF="http://www.google.com/recaptcha/mailhide/d?k=01prQrAZhhl2EbIwVcRfABsQ==&c=KtTW4Yic9xk-8g40KzJoca4fR3MYXv28g8NC6OQV-T8=">...</A>@mdocml.bsd.lv
</TD>
<TD>
source commit messages
</TD>
</TR>
</TBODY>
</TABLE>
<H1>
<A NAME="news">News</A>
</H1>
<P CLASS="news">
xx-xx-2011: version 1.12.1
</P>
<P>
Significant work on <A HREF="apropos.1.html">apropos</A> and <A HREF="mandocdb.8.html">mandocdb</A>. These tools are
now much more robust and in line with other manpage systems. A <A HREF="whatis.1.html">whatis</A> implementation is now
handled as an <A HREF="apropos.1.html">apropos</A> mode. These tools are also able to minimally handle pre-formatted
pages, that is, those already formatted by another utility such as GNU troff.
</P>
<P>
The <A HREF="man.cgi.7.html">man.cgi</A> script is also now available for wider testing. It interfaces with <A
HREF="mandocdb.8.html">mandocdb</A> manuals cached by <A HREF="catman.8.html">catman</A>. HTML output is generated
on-the-fly by <A HREF="mandoc.3.html">libmandoc</A> or internal methods to convert pre-formatted pages.
</P>
<P CLASS="news">
08-10-2011: version 1.12.0
</P>
<P>
This version features a new, work-in-progress <A HREF="mandoc.1.html">mandoc</A> output mode: -<B>Tman</B>. This mode
allows a system maintainer to distribute <A HREF="man.7.html">man</A> media for older systems that may not natively
support <A HREF="mdoc.7.html">mdoc</A>, such as old Solaris systems.
The -<B>Ofragment</B> option was added to <A HREF="mandoc.1.html">mandoc</A>'s -<B>Thtml</B> and -<B>Txhtml</B> modes.
</P>
<P>
While adding features, an <A HREF="apropos.1.html">apropos</A> utility has been merged from the mandoc-tools sandbox.
This interfaces with <A HREF="mandocdb.8.html">mandocdb</A> for semantic search of manual content. <A
HREF="apropos.1.html">apropos</A> is different from the traditional <B>apropos</B> primarily in allowing keyword search
(such as for functions, utilities, etc.) and regular expressions.
Note that the calling syntax for <B>apropos</B> is likely to change as it settles down.
</P>
<P>
In documentation news, the <A HREF="mdoc.7.html">mdoc</A> and <A HREF="man.7.html">man</A> manuals have been made
considerably more readable by adding <I>MACRO OVERVIEW</I> sections, by moving the gory details of the <I>LANGUAGE
SYNTAX</I> to the <A HREF="roff.7.html">roff</A> manual, and by moving the very technical <I>MACRO SYNTAX</I> sections
down to the bottom of the page.
</P>
<P>
Furthermore, for <A HREF="tbl.7.html">tbl</A>, the -<B>Tascii</B> mode horizontal spacing of tables was rewritten
completely. It is now compatible with <A HREF="http://www.gnu.org/software/groff/" CLASS="external">groff</A>, both
with and without frames and rulers. Nesting of indented blocks is now supported in <A HREF="man.7.html">man</A>, and
several bugs were fixed regarding indentation and alignment. The page headers in <A HREF="mdoc.7.html">mdoc</A> are now
nicer for very long titles.
</P>
<P>
See <A HREF="http://mdocml.bsd.lv/cgi-bin/cvsweb/index.sgml?cvsroot=mdocml">cvsweb</A> for
historical notes.
</P>
<P CLASS="foot">
<SMALL>
Copyright © 2008–2011
<A CLASS="external" HREF="http://kristaps.bsd.lv">Kristaps Dzonsons</A>,
$Date$
</SMALL>
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