NAME

       ronn-format - manual authoring format based on Markdown

SYNOPSIS

       name(1) -- short, single-sentence description
       =============================================

       ## SYNOPSIS

       `name` [<optional>...] <flags>

       ## DESCRIPTION

       A normal paragraph. This can span multiple lines and is terminated with two
       or more line endings -- just like Markdown.

       Inline markup for `code`, `user input`, and **strong** are displayed
       boldface; <variable>, _emphasis_, *emphasis*, are displayed in italics
       (HTML) or underline (roff).

       Manual references like sh(1), markdown(7), roff(7), etc. are hyperlinked in
       HTML output.

       Link to sections like [STANDARDS][], [SEE ALSO][], or [WITH A DIFFERENT LINK
       TEXT][#SEE-ALSO].

       Definition lists:

         * `-a`, `--argument`=[<value>]:
           One or more paragraphs describing the argument.

         * You can put whatever you *want* here, really:
           Nesting and paragraph spacing are respected.

       Frequently used sections:

       ## OPTIONS
       ## SYNTAX
       ## ENVIRONMENT
       ## RETURN VALUES
       ## STANDARDS
       ## SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS
       ## BUGS
       ## HISTORY
       ## AUTHOR
       ## COPYRIGHT
       ## SEE ALSO

DESCRIPTION

       The  ronn(1)  command  converts  text  in a simple markup to UNIX manual pages. The syntax
       includes all Markdown formatting features, plus conventions for expressing  the  structure
       and various notations present in standard UNIX manpages.

       Not all roff(7) typesetting features can be expressed using ronn syntax.

MANPAGE TITLE

       Manpages  have  a name, section, and a one-line description. Files must start with a level
       one heading defining these attributes:

           ls(1) -- list directory contents
           ================================

       Indicates that the manpage is named ls in manual section 1 (

SECTION HEADINGS

       Man section headings are expressed  with  markdown  level  two  headings.  There  are  two
       syntaxes for level two headings.

       Hash prefix syntax:

           ## HEADING TEXT

       Dash underline syntax:

           HEADING TEXT
           ------------

       Section headings should be all uppercase and may not contain inline markup.

INLINE MARKUP

       Manpages  have  a  limited set of text formatting capabilities. There´s basically boldface
       and italics (often displayed using underline). Ronn uses the following bits of markdown(7)
       to accomplish this:

       `backticks` (markdown compatible)
              Code,  flags,  commands,  and noun-like things; typically displayed in in boldface.
              All text included within backticks is displayed literally; other inline  markup  is
              not processed. HTML output: <code>.

       **double-stars** (markdown compatible)
              Also  displayed  in  boldface.  Unlike  backticks, inline markup is processed. HTML
              output: <strong>.

       <anglequotes> (non-compatible markdown extension)
              User-specified arguments,  variables,  or  user  input.  Typically  displayed  with
              underline in roff output. HTML output: <var/>.

       _underbars_ (markdown compatible)
              Emphasis. May be used for literal option values. Typically displayed with underline
              in roff output. HTML output: <em>.

       Here is grep(1)´s DESCRIPTION section represented in ronn:

           `Grep` searches the named input <FILE> (or standard input if
           no files are named, or the file name `-` is given) for lines
           containing a match to the given <PATTERN>. By default, `grep`
           prints the matching lines.

DEFINITION LISTS

       The definition list syntax  is  compatible  with  markdown´s  unordered  list  syntax  but
       requires that the first line of each list item be terminated with a colon

       An example definition list, taken from BSD test(1)´s DESCRIPTION section:

            The following primaries are used to construct expressions:

              * `-b` <file>:
                True if <file> exists and is a block special file.

              * `-c` <file>:
                True if _file_ exists and is a character special file.

              * `-d` <file>:
                True if file exists and is a directory.

LINKS

       All markdown(7) linking features are supported.

       Markdown reference-style links can be used to link to specific sections by name:

           ## SECTION 1

           See the following section.

           ## SECTION 2

           See [SECTION 1][] or [to put it another way][SECTION 1].

       The  anchor  name  would be #SECTION-1 and #SECTION-2. All non-word characters are removed
       and spaces are replaced by dashes.

SEE ALSO

       ronn(1), markdown(7), roff(7)