mp - POSTSCRIPT pretty printer

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 ] [ -newpage ] [ -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.

The mp program reads each filename in sequence and generates a prettified version of the contents in format. By default the output is sent to standard output. If you use 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:

alias print 'mp -text -printer -subject "\!*" <\!*'

-a4

Use A4 paper size (8.5 x 11.4 inches). The default paper size is none, in which case mp will try to fill the paper.

-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. By default, the input files are assumed to be mail messages.

-bottom #

The size (in points) for the bottom margin on each page. There are approximately 72 points per inch. The default value is 8 points.

-bsdprint

If set, then assume this is a BSD system, and use the appropriate print command, and command line options. The default value for this option is false.

-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. The default name is $HOME/.mpdefaults

-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.

-copies #

Number of copies of each file to output. This option only works when the filenames to print are given on the command line. The default number of copies is 1.

-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. By default, the banners are not flipped.

-folder

Format the file as a mail folder, printing multiple messages. By default, this option is not set.

-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. By default, output will be in portrait mode.

-left #

The size (in points) for the left margin on each page. There are approximately 72 points per inch. The default value is 8 points.

-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).

-name appname

Use this name, when looking for X resources for this application.

-newpage

Always start a new sheet of paper for each new file when printing in duplex mode.

-nobanners

Don't print a header and a footer banner on each page. By default, banners will be printed.

-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. By default, a burst page will be printed.

-number

Print the line number on each line output. This option is not set by default.

-onesided

Print the output in simplex (one-sided) mode. The default is to print in duplex (two-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. This is the default value.

-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 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 #

The size (in points) for the right margin on each page. There are approximately 72 points per inch. The default value is 8 points.

-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. The default value is 8.

-text

Format the file as an ordinary ASCII text file. By default, the file is assumed to be a mail message.

-top #

The size (in points) for the top margin on each page. There are approximately 72 points per inch. The default value is 8 points.

-tumble

If printing in duplex mode, adjust the alignment of the reverse page. By default, the reverse page is not tumbled.

-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). The default paper size is none, in which case mp will try to fill the paper.

-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. By default, this option is not set.

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

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.

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: newPage

Values:

True, False (False)

Description

If set to true, and printing duplex (two-sided), then printing of each new file is started on a new sheet of paper.

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

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.

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.

The default output printer is determined by looking at the 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).

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.

.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

prologue for mail printing

LIBDIR/mp.pro.l.ps

prologue for landscape format

LIBDIR/mp.pro.alt.ps

alternative "default" prologue, inserts page numbers in the bottom right corner of each page

LIBDIR/mp.pro.altl.ps

alternative "landscape" prologue.

LIBDIR/mp.pro.ff.ps

prologue for Filofax format

LIBDIR/mp.pro.fp.ps

prologue for Franklin Planner format.

LIBDIR/mp.pro.tm.ps

prologue for Time Manager format

LIBDIR/mp.pro.tsi.ps

prologue for Time/System (International) format

LIBDIR/mp.pro.tsp.ps

prologue for Time/System (Partner) format

mail(1), mailtool(1), xnews(1)

Original version by Steve Holden.

Converted to C then C++, modified and maintained by Rich Burridge, Sun Microsystems 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 structuring and the way that the prologue files are handled was included by Johan Vromans.

New style prologue files by John Macdonald.

Support for the ISO8859 character set by Bertrand DeCouty.

Rich Burridge.  MAIL: Rich.Burridge@Sun.Com