tbl-dctrl

This utility is not designed for direct user invocation from the command line and does not accept standard command-line options or arguments.

It operates internally as a helper script for dpkg-buildpackage and similar dpkg tools, processing debian/control file content as required by the build system.

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    This utility does not accept any command-line parameters or options. Its operation is driven by internal logic and the context provided by calling dpkg tools.

tbl-dctrl is an internal utility script, part of the dpkg-dev package, primarily used in the context of Debian package building.

Its core function is to assist in managing the tbl field within a Debian source package's debian/control file. The tbl field lists files (typically troff-based documentation like man pages) that require preprocessing with the tbl(1) utility to correctly format tables. tbl-dctrl helps ensure that this field is correctly structured and processed during package build operations.

It is not intended for direct interactive use by users, but rather invoked internally by tools like dpkg-buildpackage or dpkg-source as part of the automated build process to handle documentation preprocessing.

Internal Use: tbl-dctrl is an internal helper script and not meant for direct user interaction. Attempting to run it directly from the shell will likely not produce useful output or may lead to errors without the proper environment set up by dpkg tools.

Perl Dependency: As a Perl script, it requires a Perl interpreter to run.

No Man Page: It does not have its own dedicated man page, as its functionality is typically documented within dpkg-buildpackage(1) or the Debian Policy Manual.

The tbl field in debian/control is a crucial part of ensuring that troff-based documentation (especially man pages) with embedded tables is correctly processed during the Debian package build. tbl-dctrl serves as the internal mechanism that handles the parsing and validation of this field, directing the build system to apply the tbl preprocessor when necessary. This automation reduces the burden on package maintainers and helps maintain consistency across Debian packages.

The tbl-dctrl script is typically found at /usr/share/dpkg/tbl-dctrl.pl on Debian-based systems. This location, outside of typical PATH directories, reinforces its nature as an internal utility rather than a directly executable command for end-users.

tbl-dctrl has been a part of the dpkg-dev toolchain for a long time, assisting Debian package maintainers with the proper handling of troff-based documentation, specifically tables, within their packages.

Its existence is tied to the evolution of Debian's packaging standards and the widespread use of troff/groff for Unix-like system documentation (man pages). It reflects the efforts to automate and standardize the documentation build process within the Debian ecosystem.

dpkg-buildpackage(1), dpkg-source(1), tbl(1), groff(1), debian-policy(7)