-
+
rf
—
alternative reference system for (t)roff
-
+
rf
is a reference system for troff and other roff
derivatives. It differs from refer(1), the traditional troff
reference system, in a couple important ways:
- References are not stored in a separate file. They are defined via macros
- in the troff document itself.
+ in the troff document itself, usually at the end.
This means that you can move, copy and share your troff
document without needing to worry about an additional reference file.
Furthermore, you never run the risk of accidentally losing the
@@ -40,16 +40,44 @@
more basic functionality than refer(1). This means that
you can learn all of it in five minutes.
+The performance of rf
primarily depends on
+ the number of entries in the reference list at the end of the document. On
+ my HP Compaq dc5700 from 2007, the relationship between number of entries in
+ the reference list and total execution time is roughly the following:
+
+
+ Entries |
+ Time |
+
+
+ 3 |
+ 0.03s |
+
+
+ 50 |
+ 0.09s |
+
+
+ 107 |
+ 0.15s |
+
+
+ 182 |
+ 0.24s |
+
+
+I would deem it rare to have more than a couple of hundred
+ references in a troff document.
-
+
rf
is controlled by several macros, all consisting of
one uppercase and one lowercase letter, beginning with either an
‘F’ (format macros) or an ‘R’ (inline reference
and reference list macros). These are listed below in alphabetical order.
-
+
- Ff
- Defines the format for “full” inline references, which
@@ -72,8 +100,8 @@
FORMAT SYNTAX.
-
+
- Rf
- Inserts a “full” inline reference, which usually contains
@@ -112,8 +140,8 @@ there has been a gradual change in attitudes towards ...