MP(1) UNIX System V (13 April 1995) MP(1)
NAME
mp - POSTSCRIPT pretty printer
SYNOPSIS
mp [ -a4 ] [ -addhdr type ] [ -alias name ] [ -allhdrs ] [
-article ] [ -bottom # ] [ -bsdprint ] [ -chars # ] [
-columns # ] [ -config name ] [ -content ] [ -copies # ] [
-digest ] [ -elm ] [ -flip ] [ -folder ] [ -forcepage ] [
-from ] [ -help ] [ -landscape ] [ -left # ] [ -linelength #
] [ -modtime ] [ -name appname ] [ -nobanners ] [
-noburstpage ] [ -number ] [ -onesided ] [ -organiser type ]
[ -pagelength # ] [ -portrait ] [ -postscript ] [ -printer
name ] [ -prologue name ] [ -remhdr type ] [ -right # ] [
-subject text ] [ -tab # ] [ -text ] [ -top # ] [ -tumble ]
[ -twosided ] [ -us ] [ -version ] [ -words # ] [ -wrap ] [
filename ... ]
digestp [ options ] file ...
filep [ options ] file ...
filofaxp [ options ] file ...
franklinp [ options ] file ...
mailp [ options ] file ...
newsp [ options ] file ...
proplanp [ options ] file ...
timemanp [ options ] file ...
timesysip [ options ] file ...
timesyspp [ options ] file ...
The version of mp installed at your site might also support
the command line options from the previous version. These
are:
mp [ -A4 ] [ -F ] [ -PS ] [ -US ] [ -a ] [ -d ] [ -e ] [ -f
] [ -l ] [ -m ] [ -o ] [ -p prologue ] [ -s subject ] [ -tm
] [ -ts ] [ -v ] [ -? ] [ filename ... ]
Use the -help command line option to determine if these
options are supported.
DESCRIPTION
The mp program reads each filename in sequence and generates
a prettified version of the contents in POSTSCRIPT format.
By default the output is sent to standard output. If you use
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MP(1) UNIX System V (13 April 1995) MP(1)
one of the different names, output is sent direct to the
printer.
mailp will print out mail messages.
newsp will print out USENET news articles.
digestp will print out USENET digest files.
filep will print out ordinary ASCII files.
filofaxp will print out in Filofax personal organiser
format.
franklinp will print out in Franklin Planner personal
organiser format.
proplanp will print out in ProPlan personal organiser
format.
timemanp will print out in Time Manager personal organiser
format.
timesysip will print out in Time/System (International)
personal organiser format.
timesyspp will print out in Time/System (Partner) personal
organiser format.
These programs will use the PRINTER or LPDEST environment
variables to determine which printer the output is sent to.
If no filename argument is provided, mp reads the standard
input. If the standard input is a terminal, input is
terminated by an EOF signal, usually Ctrl-D.
Mail items, news articles, ordinary ASCII files, complete
mail folders, and digests are all acceptable input formats
for mp. The output format includes grayscale lozenges
containing banner information at the top and bottom of every
page.
The program is conveniently used in conjunction with the
print button of the SunView/xnews(1)mailtool(1) programs,
or the pipe command provided by mail(1). Add the following
two lines to your .mailrc file:
set printmail='mp -printer'
set cmd="mp -printer &"
Source the .mailrc file, and you are ready to use mp. For
printing ordinary ASCII files, the following alias (to be
placed in your .cshrc file) may also prove useful:
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MP(1) UNIX System V (13 April 1995) MP(1)
alias print 'mp -text -printer -subject "\!*" <\!*'
OPTIONS
-a4 Use A4 paper size (8.5 x 11.4 inches).
-addhdr type
Add type to the list of mail or news headers to be
printed.
-alias name
The user name alias that should be printed out in the
mp banner heading, to show who the output is for. This
will override the NAME environment variable and the
users entry in the password file.
-allhdrs
If set, then print out all mail or news headers.
-article
Format the file as a news article. The top banner
contains the text: "Article from newsgroup ", where
newsgroup is the first news group found on the
Newsgroups: line.
-bottom #
The size (in points) for the bottom margin on each
page. There are approximately 72 points per inch.
-bsdprint
If set, then assume this is a BSD system, and use the
appropriate print command, and command line options.
-chars #
The maximum number of characters to extract from the
gecos field of the users /etc/passwd entry. The default
is 40.
-columns #
Number of columns of output per page. This value will
override the default value in the prologue file.
-config name
The name of an alternate X resource configuration file,
which will be read by mp at startup time.
-content
Instead of using "\nFrom" to denote the start of new
mail messages, mp will look for (and use) the value of
the Content-Length: mail header. If the Content-Length
doesn't take you to the next "\nFrom", then it's wrong,
and mp falls back to looking for the next "\nFrom" in
the mail folder.
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MP(1) UNIX System V (13 April 1995) MP(1)-copies #
Number of copies of each file to output. This option
only works when the filenames to print are given on the
command line.
-digest
Format the file as a digest.
-elm Assume the ELM mail frontend intermediate file format.
Used when printing messages from within ELM (using the
"p" command), especially for printing tagged messages.
This option must be specified in your ELM option setup.
-flip
Flip the top and bottom banners on the output.
-folder
Format the file as a mail folder, printing multiple
messages.
-forcepage
Always start a new page (rather than a new column) when
in landscape or multi-page personal organiser mode.
-from
Instead of printing who the mail article is for, the
top header will contain who the mail article is from. A
useful option for people with their own personal
printer.
-help
Print the usage message for mp
-landscape
Format output in landscape mode. Two pages of text
will be printed per sheet of paper.
-left #
The size (in points) for the left margin on each page.
There are approximately 72 points per inch.
-linelength #
Maximum number of characters on each line of output.
This value will override the default value in the
prologue file.
-modtime
Use the files last modification time (rather than the
current time) in the mp banner. Note that this only
works when the files are supplied on the command line
(as opposed to standard input).
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MP(1) UNIX System V (13 April 1995) MP(1)-name appname
Use this name, when looking for X resources for this
application.
-nobanners
Don't print a header and a footer banner on each page.
-noburstpage
If the output is destined for a printer, than the
printing of the burst page is disabled. Most of the
information that typically appears on the burst page
sheet is output in the mp banners.
-number
Print the line number on each line output.
-onesided
Print the output in simplex (one-sided) mode.
-organiser type
Format the file for use with the given organiser type.
Valid organiser types are filofax, franklin, proplan,
timeman, tsintl and tspartner
-pagelength #
Maximum number of lines on each page of output. This
value will override the default value in the prologue
file.
-portrait
Format output in portait mode. One page of text will
be printed per sheet of paper.
-printer name
Send output to the named printer. Otherwise send output
to the printer named in the PRINTER or LPDEST
environment variables.
-ps If the mail or digest message just has PostScript as
the text of the message, then this is normally just
passed straight through. Specifying this option, causes
PostScript to be printed as text.
-prologue name
Employ the file name as the POSTSCRIPT prologue file,
overriding any previously defined file names.
-remhdr type
Add type to the list of mail or news headers which will
not be printed.
-right #
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MP(1) UNIX System V (13 April 1995) MP(1)
The size (in points) for the right margin on each page.
There are approximately 72 points per inch.
-subject text
Use text as the new subject for the printout. If you
are printing ordinary ASCII files which have been
specified on the command line, the subject will default
to the name of each of these files. Note that as mp
automatically assumes the default input file format is
a mail file, you will have to include the -text command
line option to make this happen.
-tab #
The number of spaces to output when encountering a tab
character.
-text
Format the file as an ordinary ASCII text file.
-top #
The size (in points) for the top margin on each page.
There are approximately 72 points per inch.
-tumble
If printing in duplex mode, adjust the alignment of the
reverse page.
-twosided
Print the output in duplex (two-sided) mode. This is
the default. This obviously only works if the printer
is capable of printing on both sides of the paper.
-us Use US paper size (8.5 x 11 inches).
-version
Print the version number of this release of mp.
-words #
The maximum number of words to extract from the gecos
field of the users /etc/passwd entry. The default is 3.
-wrap
Wrap words onto the next line of output.
RESOURCES
On startup, mp will use the following X resources which by
default are stored in $HOME/.mpdefaults. Note these resource
names will be prepended with the running application name
(mp, newsp, mailp ...). This means that you can have
different sets of resources for each type of program.
Resource: addHeaders
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MP(1) UNIX System V (13 April 1995) MP(1)
Values: Headers to add (string)
Description A comma separated list of the extra headers
that mp should print out.
Resource: aliasName
Values: Text string (NULL).
Description The user name alias that should be printed
out in the mp banner heading, to show who the
output is for. This will override the NAME
environment variable and the users entry in
the password file.
Resource: allHeaders
Values: True, False (False)
Description If set to true, then all mail or news headers
are printed out.
Resource: bottomMargin
Values: positive integer (8)
Description The size (in points) for the bottom margin on
each page. There are approximately 72 points
per inch.
Resource: bsdPrinter
Values: True, False (False)
Description If set to true, then it is assumed that this
is a BSD system, and the appropriate printer
command and command line options are used.
Resource: copies
Values: positive integer (1)
Description The number of copies to be printed for each
file.
Resource: doubleSided
Values: True, False (True)
Description Determines whether the output will be printed
on one side of the paper or two. Obviously
for two-sided output to work, the printer has
to support it.
Resource: elmMail
Values: True, False (False)
Description If set to true, assumes the ELM mail frontend
intermediate file format.
Resource: fileType
Values: Mail, News, Postscript or Text (Mail)
Description Describes the type of the input file to be
processed. Either mail messages, news
articles, pure PostScript or plain text
files.
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MP(1) UNIX System V (13 April 1995) MP(1)
Resource: flipBanners
Values: True, False (False)
Description If set to true, flips the top and bottom
banners on the output.
Resource: forcePage
Values: True, False (False)
Description If set to true, always starts a new page
(rather than a new column) when in landscape
or multi-page personal organiser mode.
Resource: leftMargin
Values: positive integer (8)
Description The size (in points) for the left margin on
each page. There are approximately 72 points
per inch.
Resource: lineLength
Values: positive integer (80)
Description The maximum number of characters printed on
each line.
Resource: mailDigest
Values: True, False (False)
Description If set to true then mp assumes the input is
in the form of a mail digest.
Resource: mailFolder
Values: True, False (False)
Description If set to true then mp assumes the input is a
file containing more then one mail message,
and processes (and prints) each in turn.
Resource: nameChars
Values: 1-255 (40)
Description The maximum number of characters to extract
from the gecos field of the users /etc/passwd
entry.
Resource: nameWords
Values: 1-255 (3)
Description The maximum number of words to extract from
the gecos field of the users /etc/passwd
entry.
Resource: numberColumns
Values: positive integer (1)
Description The number of columns of output per page.
This value will override the default value in
the prologue file.
Resource: numberLines
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Values: True, False (False)
Description If set to true then mp will number each line
of output.
Resource: organiserType
Values: Filofax, Franklin, Proplan, Timeman, Tsintl
or Tspartner
Description Describes the personal organiser output
format.
Resource: outputType
Values: Portrait, Landscape or Organiser (Portrait)
Description Describes the printed output format. Either
portrait, landscape or one of the special
personal organiser formats.
Resource: pageLength
Values: positive integer (66)
Description The maximum number of lines printed on each
page.
Resource: paperSize
Values: None, A4 or US (None)
Description Describes the size of the paper the the
output will be printed on.
Resource: printHeaderPage
Values: True, False (False)
Description If set to true then a burst banner page will
be printed at the beginning of the mp output.
Resource: printerName
Values: Text string (NULL)
Description The name of the printer to send output to. If
no name is supplied, then mp will use the
default printer.
Resource: prologueName
Values: UNIX pathname (NULL)
Description Use this as the prologue filename overriding
any previously defined file names.
Resource: removeHeaders
Values: Headers to remove (string)
Description A comma separated list of the standard
headers that mp should not print out.
Resource: rightMargin
Values: positive integer (8)
Description The size (in points) for the right margin on
each page. There are approximately 72 points
per inch.
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Resource: subject
Values: Text string (NULL)
Description The subject that will be printed out in the
banner for each file printed.
Resource: tabSize
Values: positive integer (8)
Description The number of spaces to output when
encountering a tab character.
Resource: topMargin
Values: positive integer (8)
Description The size (in points) for the top margin on
each page. There are approximately 72 points
per inch.
Resource: tumble
Values: True, False (False)
Description If set to true and printing in duplex mode,
adjust the alignment of the reverse page.
Resource: useContent
Values: True, False (False)
Description If set to true, instead of using "\nFrom" to
denote the start of new mail messages, mp
will look for (and use) the value of the
Content-Length: mail header. If the Content-
Length doesn't take you to the next "\nFrom",
then it's wrong, and mp falls back to looking
for the next "\nFrom" in the mail folder.
Resource: useFrom
Values: True, False (False)
Description If set to true, instead of printing who the
mail article is for, the top header will
contain who the mail article is from. A
useful option for people with their own
personal printer.
Resource: useModTime
Values: True, False (False)
Description If set to true, use the files last
modification time (rather than the current
time) in the mp banner.
Resource: wrapWords
Values: True, False (False)
Description If set to true, wrap words onto the next line
of output.
ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
The default output printer is determined by looking at the
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MP(1) UNIX System V (13 April 1995) MP(1)
PRINTER environment variable for BSD systems or the LPDEST
environment variable for System V systems.
An alternative file containing the mp X resources can be
given with the MPDEFAULTS environment variable.
The mp prologue file is determined by first looking for the
environment variable MP_PROLOGUE, which specifies the
directory where mp prologue files are to be found. If
MP_PROLOGUE is not found, then the default directory is
assumed (LIBDIR/mp.pro.ps).
SUPPLIED PROLOGUE FILES
The following prologue files are provided:
mp.pro.ps
Used by default
mp.pro.l.ps
Used by the -landscape landscape mode option
mp.pro.ff.ps
Used if the -filofax option is in effect
mp.pro.fp.ps
Used if the -franklin option is in effect
mp.pro.pp.ps
Used if the -proplan option is in effect
mp.pro.tm.ps
Used if the -timeman option is in effect
mp.pro.tsi.ps
Used if the -tsintl option is in effect
mp.pro.tsp.ps
Used if the -tspartner option is in effect
mp.pro.alt.ps
An alternative modification of the default
prologue file which outputs the page number in the
right corner of the bottom banner.
mp.pro.altl.ps
An alternative landscape option mode prologue
file.
FILES
.cshrc
initialization file for csh(1)
.mailrc
initialization file for mail(1)
$HOME/.mpdefaults
X resource initialisation file.
BINDIR/mp
executable
LIBDIR/mp.pro.ps
POSTSCRIPT prologue for mail printing
LIBDIR/mp.pro.l.ps
POSTSCRIPT prologue for landscape format
LIBDIR/mp.pro.alt.ps
alternative "default" POSTSCRIPT prologue, inserts page
numbers in the bottom right corner of each page
LIBDIR/mp.pro.altl.ps
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MP(1) UNIX System V (13 April 1995) MP(1)
alternative "landscape" POSTSCRIPT prologue.
LIBDIR/mp.pro.ff.ps
POSTSCRIPT prologue for Filofax format
LIBDIR/mp.pro.fp.ps
POSTSCRIPT prologue for Franklin Planner format.
LIBDIR/mp.pro.tm.ps
POSTSCRIPT prologue for Time Manager format
LIBDIR/mp.pro.tsi.ps
POSTSCRIPT prologue for Time/System (International)
format
LIBDIR/mp.pro.tsp.ps
POSTSCRIPT prologue for Time/System (Partner) format
SEE ALSO
mail(1), mailtool(1), xnews(1)
AUTHORS
Original version by Steve Holden.
Converted to C then C++, modified and maintained by Rich
Burridge, SunSoft Inc.
Original modified to handle net news articles and MH mail by
Bruno Pillard, Chorus Systemes, France.
Handling of mail digests added by Dave Glowacki of Public
Works Computer Services, St Paul, MN.
Original manual page revised by Rick Rodgers, UCSF School of
Pharmacy, San Francicso.
Support for Personal Organiser printing style added by
Douglas Buchanan, Sun Microsystems Europe.
Substantial modifications to header parsing by Jeremy
Webber, Computer Science Department, University of Adelaide,
Australia.
Support for printing multiple files and subject line
filename print for ordinary ASCII files added by Sam
Manoharan, Edinburgh University.
Support for landscape mode written by Michael Tuchiarone.
Revision of the POSTSCRIPT structuring and the way that the
prologue files are handled was included by Johan Vromans.
New style POSTSCRIPT prologue files by John Macdonald.
Support for the ISO8859 character set by Bertrand DeCouty.
Rich Burridge. PHONE: (USA) (415) 336 6261 MAIL: richb@Eng.Sun.COM
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