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NAME
   mcol - multicolumn formatting

SYNOPSIS
   mcol [-cn] [-ln] [-wn] [-gn] [-dn] [file ...]

DESCRIPTION
   Mcol  reads  the named files and formats them into multicolumn
   output on the standard output. If the filename "-"  is  given,
   or no files are specified, the standard input is read.
   
   The options are as follows.

   -cn  Format the output into "n" columns.  Default is 2.

   -ln  Set  the  output  page  size  to  "n".  Mcol produces its
        output in pages, but does not  place  separators  between
        the   pages   on  the  assumption  that  some  subsequent
        processor will do that. (The default page length is 55.)

   -wn  Set the column width to  "n"  characters.   Lines  longer
        than  "n"  characters  are truncated. (The default column
        width is 60.)

   -gn  Set the "gutter" width to "n".  The gutter is  the  white
        space between columns. (The default gutter width is 8.)

   -dn  Assume  output  is  to  be printed on a display terminal.
        The column size is set to "n"  characters  and  the  page
        size  is  set  to  24  lines.   The number of columns and
        gutter width are  computed  to  maximize  the  amount  of
        information  on a single screen. If "n" is omitted, 10 is
        used, which is useful for displaying lists of file names.


FILES
   None

SEE ALSO

DIAGNOSTICS
   invalid column count
   invalid page size
   invalid column width
   invalid gutter width
      The value of one of the option flags is invalid or  exceeds
      the limitations of mcol.

   ignoring invalid flag




MCOL (1)                     10/1/78                     MCOL (1)


      A  command argument option flag was given which mcol didn't
      recognize.

   insufficient buffer space
      Mcol could not buffer an entire page.  This is usually  the
      result  of  options  that specify a large page size or many
      columns. The buffer size is set by the MAXBUF definition in
      the source code.

   too many lines
      The number of lines per page times the  number  of  columns
      exceeded  mcol's  line  buffer space. The maximum number of
      lines allowed is set by the MAXPTR definition in the source
      code.

BUGS/DEFICIENCIES

AUTHORS
   Original by David Hanson and friends  (U.  of  Arizona),  with
   modifications by Debbie Scherrer (LBL).


































