PPT(6) | Games Manual | PPT(6)

# NAME

`ppt` — reformat input as paper tape

# SYNOPSIS

`ppt` | [string ...]

`ppt` | `-d` [`-b`]

# DESCRIPTION

The `ppt` command reads the given input and reformats it in the form of paper tape. Acceptable input are command line arguments or the standard input.

The options are as follows:

`-d` [`-b`]
  Decode paper tape on the standard input back to ASCII. Unprintable characters are visually encoded with vis(3) unless the `-b` option (binary) is also specified. A lowercase ‘x’ is printed for undecipherable input lines.

# SEE ALSO

bcd(6)

# STANDARDS

ECMA-10, ECMA Standard for Data Interchange on Punched Tape.

# HISTORY

A `ppt` command first appeared in Version 7 AT&T UNIX. The options `-d` and `-b` first appeared in OpenBSD 3.3.

# AUTHORS

Keith Bostic
Paul Janzen <pjanzen@foatdi.net>
Michael Shalayeff <mickey@lucifier.net>

August 2, 2025 | Debian