NL(C) XENIX System V NL(C)
Name
nl - Adds line numbers to a file.
Syntax
nl [-htype] [-btype] [-ftype] [-vstart#] [-iincr] [-p]
[-lnum] [-ssep] [-wwidth] [-nformat] file
Description
nl reads lines from the named file, or the standard input if
no file is named, and reproduces the lines on the standard
output. Lines are numbered on the left in accordance with
the command options in effect.
nl views the text it reads in terms of logical pages. Line
numbering is reset at the start of each logical page. A
logical page consists of a header, a body, and a footer
section. Empty sections are valid. Different line
numbering options are independently available for header,
body, and footer (e.g. no numbering of header and footer
lines while numbering blank lines only in the body).
The start of logical page sections is signaled by input
lines containing nothing but the following combinations of
backslashes (\) and colons (:):
Page Section Line Contents
Header \:\:\:
Body \:\:
Footer \:
Unless signaled otherwise, nl assumes the text being read is
in a single logical page body.
Command options may appear in any order and may be
intermingled with an optional filename. Only one file may
be named. The options are:
-btype Specifies which logical page body lines are to be
numbered. Recognized types and their meaning are:
a, number all lines; t, number lines with
printable text only; n, no line numbering;
pstring, number only lines that contain the
regular expression specified in string. Default
type for logical page body is t (text lines
numbered).
-htype Same as -btype except for header. Default type
for logical page header is n (no lines numbered).
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NL(C) XENIX System V NL(C)-ftype Same as -btype except for footer. Default for
logical page footer is n (no lines numbered).
-p Does not restart numbering at logical page
delimiters.
-vstart# Start# is the initial value used to number logical
page lines. Default is 1.
-iincr Incr is the increment value used to number logical
page lines. Default is 1.
-ssep Sep is the character(s) used in separating the
line number and the corresponding text line.
Default sep is a tab.
-wwidth Width is the number of characters to be used for
the line number. Default width is 6.
-nformat Format is the line numbering format. Recognized
values are: ln, left justified, leading zeroes
suppressed; rn, right justified, leading zeroes
suppressed; rz, right justified, leading zeroes
kept. Default format is rn (right justified).
-lnum Num is the number of blank lines to be considered
as one. For example, -l2 results in only the
second adjacent blank being numbered (if the
appropriate -ha, -ba, and/or -fa option is set).
Default is 1.
See Also
pr(C)
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