colcrt command in Linux with examples

Last Updated : 15 May, 2019

colcrt command in Linux systems is used to format the text processor output so that it can be viewed on Cathode Ray Tube displays. It removes underlining, strike-throughs and underscores, which can’t be displayed on CRTs since only one character can be produced at a given location on the CRT screen. It also places all the underscores on a new line, right under the original line.

Syntax:

colcrt [-] [-2] [file ...]

Note: For this article, we will be using the below-mentioned files to show the outputs of the colcrt command.

GFG_1:
geeksforgeeks.c

Options:

colcrt command with help option: The help option of colcrt command displays the usage/syntax of the colcrt command.
```
colcrt -h
```
colcrt with ‘-‘ option: When colcrt is used with ‘ – ‘ option, the resulting output has all the special formatting (such as strikethrough, underscore, etc.) removed.
Example 1:
```
colcrt - GFG_1
```
Example 2:
```
colcrt - geeksforgeeks.c
```
colcrt with ‘-2’ option: When colcrt is used with ‘-2’ option, the resulting output has all the special formatting removed, with the underscores additionally being displayed in new lines. Also, a new empty line is added after every line, which makes the output more easily readable.
Example 1:
```
colcrt -2 GFG_1
```
Example 2:
```
colcrt -2 geeksforgeeks.c
```