textutil MacOS command

The MacOS textutil command allows users to perform various operations on text files, such as converting between different text formats, modifying text content, and analyzing text files. This powerful command-line tool provides options for manipulating text files in bulk, making it a versatile tool for managing text content. Users can leverage textutil to streamline workflows, automate text-related tasks, and ensure consistency across text documents. With its wide range of features and functionalities, textutil is a valuable tool for anyone working with text files on MacOS.

textutil Syntax:

textutil [option] [parameter]

textutil Options:

Option	Description
-convert format	Convert input file to specified format
-info	Display information about the input file
-cat format	Concatenate input files into specified format
-stdin	Read from standard input
-stdout	Write to standard output
-font fontname	Set the font used when converting to RTF or Word format
-inputencoding encoding	Specify the encoding of the input file
-outputencoding encoding	Specify the encoding of the output file
-showfonts	Display available font names
-excludedproprietary	Exclude proprietary RTF extensions when converting to RTF format
-extension extension	Specify file extension when using -output and input files have no extension
-noload	Do not load the main window when launched
-pagewebarchive	Convert to a Web Archive
-html	Convert to HTML format
-intlediting	Set internal unicode bit to allow editing of unicode characters in Word format output
-font fontname	Set the font used when converting to RTF or Word format
-fontsize size	Set the font size when converting to RTF or Word format

Caution

Exercise caution when using the textutil command as it directly modifies or converts text files. Ensure to backup important files before performing any conversions or modifications.

Parameters:

Parameter	Description
inputfile(s)	The file(s) to be processed by textutil
outputfile	The output file for the result of the textutil command
directory	The directory where the output file will be saved
format	The format to convert the input file(s) to, such as rtf, html, doc, docx, txt, etc.
fontname	The name of the font to use when converting to RTF or Word format
encoding	The encoding to use for the input or output file
extension	The file extension to use when input files have no extension

textutil Command Usage Examples:

Convert a TXT file to RTF

textutil -convert rtf example.txt

Converts the text file “example.txt” to Rich Text Format (RTF).

Convert a DOCX file to TXT

textutil -convert txt example.docx

Converts the Word document “example.docx” to plain text format (TXT).

Display Word Count of a Text File

textutil -info example.txt | grep "Words"

Displays the word count of the text file “example.txt”.

Convert a DOC file to HTML

textutil -convert html example.doc

Converts the Word document “example.doc” to HTML format.

Convert a HTML file to DOCX

textutil -convert docx example.html

Converts the HTML file “example.html” to Word document (DOCX) format.

Tip

When using the textutil command in MacOS, it is important to remember that it has various options that can manipulate text files in different ways, such as converting between different formats or adjusting the formatting of a text document. Familiarize yourself with the available options to make the most out of this command.

How do I use textutil in MacOS?

To use the textutil command in bash, execute the following command:

textutil --convert txt document.rtf

What is the purpose of the textutil command in MacOS?

The textutil command in MacOS is used for various text-related operations, such as converting between different text formats, adjusting text formatting, and interacting with text files in the terminal.

How can I convert a text file to a different format using textutil?

To convert a text file to a different format using textutil, you can use the following command:

textutil -convert <format> <input_file>

Can textutil be used to convert Rich Text Format (RTF) files?

Yes, textutil can be used to convert Rich Text Format (RTF) files to other formats or vice versa. One example of converting an RTF file to a PDF file is shown below:

textutil -convert pdf document.rtf

How can I view the available options and usage information for textutil?

To view the available options and usage information for the textutil command, you can use the following command:

textutil --help

Is it possible to adjust the formatting of a text document using textutil?

Yes, you can adjust the formatting of a text document using textutil by specifying options like font, size, and spacing. An example of adjusting the font size of a text file is shown below:

textutil -font Times 12 document.txt

How do I strip text formatting from a document using textutil?

To strip text formatting from a document using textutil, you can use the following command:

textutil -convert txt document.rtf

Can textutil handle batch processing of multiple text files?

Yes, textutil can handle batch processing of multiple text files by specifying multiple input files or using wildcards in the command. An example of converting multiple RTF files to TXT files is shown below:

textutil -convert txt *.rtf

Applications of the textutil command

• Convert text
• Convert RTF
• Convert RTFD
• Convert Word
• Convert WordML
• Convert HTML
• Convert ODT
• Convert webarchive
• Convert XML
• Convert MHT
• Convert plain text
• Combine text files
• Merge RTF files
• Merge RTFD files
• Merge Word documents
• Merge WordML documents
• Merge HTML files
• Merge ODT files
• Generate a Table of Contents
• Format a document for printing
• Check spelling and grammar.