pod2html Command in Linux
The pod2html command in Linux converts a POD file to HTML. A POD file is a plain-text file written in POD (Plain Old Documentation) format, a lightweight and simple markup language primarily used for documenting Perl scripts, modules, and programs.
Converting POD (Plain Old Documentation) to HTML is done to make the documentation more accessible, visually appealing, and easier to navigate. HTML is a widely supported format for displaying content on web browsers, making it ideal for sharing and reading documentation online.
Table of Contents
Here is a comprehensive guide to the options available with the pod2html command −
Syntax of pod2html Command
Here is the syntax of the Linux pod2html command −
pod2html [options]
The [options] field in the above syntax is used to specify the input POD file, output HTML file name, and other options to modify the command behavior.
pod2html Command Options
The options of the pod2html command are listed below −
| Options | Description |
|---|---|
| --backlink | Turns =head1 directives into links to the top of the HTML file. |
| --cachedir=name | Specifies the directory for storing the cache. Defaults to the current working directory. |
| --css=URL | Specifies the URL of a cascading style sheet to link in the HTML file. |
| --flush | Flushes the cache. |
| --header | Creates header and footer blocks with the 'NAME' section text. |
| --help | Displays the command usage message. |
| --htmldir=name | Sets the directory for relative links in the HTML file. Avoid using with --htmlroot. |
| --htmlroot=URL | Sets the base URL for HTML files. Avoid using with --htmldir. |
| --index | Generates an index at the top of the HTML file (default). |
| --infile=name | Specifies the POD file to convert. Defaults to STDIN if not provided. |
| --nobacklink | Prevents =head1 directives from becoming links (default). |
| --noheader | Do not create header and footer blocks (default). |
| --noindex | Prevents generating an index at the top of the HTML file. |
| --nopoderrors | Excludes the 'POD ERRORS' section in the output file. |
| --noquiet | Displays harmless warning messages (default). |
| --norecurse | Does not recurse into subdirectories in podpath. |
| --noverbose | Suppresses progress messages (default). |
| --outfile=name | Specifies the HTML file to create. Defaults to STDOUT if not provided. |
| --poderrors | Includes a POD ERRORS section in the output file (default). |
| --podpath=name:...:name | Specifies subdirectories of podroot containing POD files for cross-references. |
| --podroot=name | Specifies the base directory for finding library PODs. |
| --quiet | Suppresses harmless warning messages. |
| --recurse | Recurses into subdirectories in podpath (default). |
| --title=title | Specifies the title of the HTML file. |
| --verbose | Displays progress messages. |
Examples of pod2html Command in Linux
In the section, the usage of the pod2html command in Linux will be discussed with examples −
Converting a POD File to HTML
To convert a POD file to HTML with the pod2html command, use the --infile option to specify the source .pod file −
pod2html --infile=file.pod
The above command converts the POD file and displays the output in the stdout.
Converting a POD File to HTML and Saving Output to a File
By default, the output is displayed to the standard output. To store the output in a file, use the --outfile option −
pod2html --infile=file.pod --outfile=output.html
The output will be saved in the output.html file in the current working directory.
Adding the Custom Title to the HTML
To add a custom title in the HTML file, use the --title option −
pod2html --infile=file.pod --outfile=output.html --title="HTML File"
The title is the text that appears in the browser's title bar or tab when the HTML file is opened.
Linking an External CSS File to the HTML File
To create and link a CSS file while converting a POD file to HTML, use the --css option −
pod2html --infile=file.pod --outfile=output.html --css="stylesheet.css"
The --css option links to an external CSS file (must be created separately), allowing customization of the appearance of the HTML file. For example, the stylesheet.css could define the font size, header styles, background color, and other visual aspects of the document.
Adding a Header and Footer to the HTML File
To add a header or footer to the output HTML document, use the --header option with the pod2html command −
pod2html --infile=file.pod --outfile=output.html --header
The resulting HTML file will include a header and footer containing the NAME section content from the POD file.
Generating HTML without Index
By default, the conversion of POD to HTML generates an index at the top of the file. To skip the index even if the POD file contains headings or sections, use the --noindex option −
pod2html --infile=file.pod --outfile=output.html --noindex
Handling Links or References
By default, if links or references are in the POD file to other parts of the documentation, pod2html creates absolute links, including the full URL or path. By using --htmldir option, the pod2html makes relative links instead, based on the provided folder path −
pod2html --infile=file.pod --outfile=output.html --htmldir=/home/user/folder
This is useful for the portability of the document.
Excluding POD File Error Section
To convert a POD to HTML but exclude the POD ERRORS section, even if there are errors, use the --nopoderrors option −
pod2html --infile=file.pod --outfile=output.html --nopoderrors
Generating Backlinks in the HTML File
To convert the POD and create backlinks for =head1 sections pointing to the top of the HTML file, use the --backlink option −
pod2html --infile=file.pod --outfile=output.html --backlink
In a POD document, headings like =head1 in POD mark major sections like Introduction, Installation, etc. With the --backlink option, each of these major sections will have a backlink that can be clicked to quickly jump back to the top of the document.
Suppressing Warnings
To execute the command quietly without displaying warnings, use the --quiet option −
pod2html --infile=file.pod --outfile=output.html --quiet
Enabling Verbose Mode
To get verbose output, use the --verbose option with the pod2html command −
pod2html --infile=file.pod --outfile=output.html --verbose
Displaying Help
To display help related to the pod2html command, use the --help option −
pod2html --help
Conclusion
The pod2html command in Linux is used to convert POD (Plain Old Documentation) files into HTML format, making them more accessible and easier to navigate on the web. It offers a range of options, such as adding custom titles, linking CSS files, including headers and footers, and generating backlinks. The command also allows users to specify output file locations, handle errors, suppress warnings, and customize link formats.