Online Troff/ms Macro Previewer | Live Document Editor

Home » Online Troff/ms Macro Previewer | Live Document Editor
Troff Editor
Source Code (ms) 0 chars

Online Troff/ms Macro Previewer

Welcome to the modern standard for viewing and editing Troff documents with the -ms macro package explicitly designed for the web. Whether you are a computer science student, a Unix enthusiast, or a technical writer maintaining legacy documentation, this tool provides a seamless, real-time rendering experience that traditional command-line tools cannot match.

Why This Tool is Different

  • Instant Client-Side Rendering: Zero server latency. Your keystrokes are processed instantly using a custom-built JavaScript parser optimized for speed.
  • Privacy First: Your code never leaves your browser. We do not store, track, or upload your documents.
  • Production-Ready Outputs: Create professional-looking PDFs directly from your browser using the "Print / PDF" feature, which applies specific print-optimizing stylesheets.
  • Mobile Optimized: Fully responsive design ensures you can view and edit documentation on tablets and smartphones on the go.

Supported Macros Cheat Sheet

Use these common macros to format your document:

  • .TL — Document Title (centered, bold).
  • .AU — Author Name (centered, italic).
  • .AI — Author Institution.
  • .NH [level] — Numbered Heading. .NH is level 1, .NH 2 is level 2 (e.g., 1.2).
  • .SH — Unnumbered Section Heading.
  • .PP / .LP — Standard Paragraph start.
  • .IP [mark] — Indented Paragraph (Lists). Use .IP • for bullets.
  • .QP — Blockquote (indented on both sides).
  • .DS / .DE — Start/End Display (Code blocks, preformatted text).
  • \\fBtext\\fP — Bold inline text.
  • \\fItext\\fP — Italic inline text.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Groff and Troff? +
Troff (Typesetter Roff) is the original Unix text processing system. Groff (GNU Troff) is the modern, open-source implementation of Troff used in Linux systems. This tool is compatible with standard syntax used by both.
Can I use custom macros (.de)? +
Currently, this tool focuses on the standard -ms macro set for portability. Custom macro definitions via .de are not processed in this version to ensure performance and stability.
Is this compatible with man pages (-man)? +
This tool is specifically optimized for the -ms (manuscript) package. While some basic macros overlap, -man macros (like .TH, .SH) might render differently or require the -ms equivalent layout.

 

Read Also: