diff --git a/doc/Makefile b/doc/Makefile
--- a/doc/Makefile
+++ b/doc/Makefile
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ MANDIR=$(PREFIX)/share/man
 INSTALL=install -c -m 644
 PYTHON=python
 RST2HTML=$(shell which rst2html 2> /dev/null || which rst2html.py)
-RST2MAN=$(shell which rst2man 2> /dev/null || which rst2man.py)
 
 all: man html
 
@@ -21,13 +20,7 @@ hg.1.gendoc.txt: gendoc.py ../mercurial/
 	${PYTHON} gendoc.py > $@
 
 %: %.txt common.txt
-	$(RST2MAN) $*.txt > $*.tmp
-# add newline after all literal blocks and fix backslash escape
-	sed \
-	  -e 's/^\.fi$$/.fi\n/' \
-	  -e 's/\\fB\\\\fP/\\fB\\e\\fP/' \
-	  $*.tmp > $*
-	rm $*.tmp
+	$(PYTHON) rst2man.py $*.txt > $*
 
 %.html: %.txt common.txt
 	$(RST2HTML) $*.txt > $*.html
diff --git a/doc/rst2man.py b/doc/rst2man.py
new file mode 100755
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/rst2man.py
@@ -0,0 +1,1112 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+# $Id: manpage.py 6110 2009-08-31 14:40:33Z grubert $
+# Author: Engelbert Gruber <grubert@users.sourceforge.net>
+# Copyright: This module is put into the public domain.
+
+"""
+Simple man page writer for reStructuredText.
+
+Man pages (short for "manual pages") contain system documentation on unix-like
+systems. The pages are grouped in numbered sections: 
+
+ 1 executable programs and shell commands
+ 2 system calls
+ 3 library functions
+ 4 special files
+ 5 file formats
+ 6 games
+ 7 miscellaneous
+ 8 system administration
+
+Man pages are written *troff*, a text file formatting system.
+
+See http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Man-Page for a start.
+
+Man pages have no subsection only parts.
+Standard parts
+
+  NAME ,
+  SYNOPSIS ,
+  DESCRIPTION ,
+  OPTIONS ,
+  FILES ,
+  SEE ALSO ,
+  BUGS ,
+
+and
+
+  AUTHOR .
+
+A unix-like system keeps an index of the DESCRIPTIONs, which is accesable
+by the command whatis or apropos.
+
+"""
+
+__docformat__ = 'reStructuredText'
+
+import sys
+import os
+import time
+import re
+from types import ListType
+
+import docutils
+from docutils import nodes, utils, writers, languages
+import roman
+
+FIELD_LIST_INDENT = 7
+DEFINITION_LIST_INDENT = 7
+OPTION_LIST_INDENT = 7
+BLOCKQOUTE_INDENT = 3.5
+
+# Define two macros so man/roff can calculate the
+# indent/unindent margins by itself
+MACRO_DEF = (r""".
+.nr rst2man-indent-level 0
+.
+.de1 rstReportMargin
+\\$1 \\n[an-margin]
+level \\n[rst2man-indent-level]
+level margin: \\n[rst2man-indent\\n[rst2man-indent-level]]
+-
+\\n[rst2man-indent0]
+\\n[rst2man-indent1]
+\\n[rst2man-indent2]
+..
+.de1 INDENT
+.\" .rstReportMargin pre:
+. RS \\$1
+. nr rst2man-indent\\n[rst2man-indent-level] \\n[an-margin]
+. nr rst2man-indent-level +1
+.\" .rstReportMargin post:
+..
+.de UNINDENT
+. RE
+.\" indent \\n[an-margin]
+.\" old: \\n[rst2man-indent\\n[rst2man-indent-level]]
+.nr rst2man-indent-level -1
+.\" new: \\n[rst2man-indent\\n[rst2man-indent-level]]
+.in \\n[rst2man-indent\\n[rst2man-indent-level]]u
+..
+""")
+
+class Writer(writers.Writer):
+
+    supported = ('manpage')
+    """Formats this writer supports."""
+
+    output = None
+    """Final translated form of `document`."""
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        writers.Writer.__init__(self)
+        self.translator_class = Translator
+
+    def translate(self):
+        visitor = self.translator_class(self.document)
+        self.document.walkabout(visitor)
+        self.output = visitor.astext()
+
+
+class Table:
+    def __init__(self):
+        self._rows = []
+        self._options = ['center', ]
+        self._tab_char = '\t'
+        self._coldefs = []
+    def new_row(self):
+        self._rows.append([])
+    def append_separator(self, separator):
+        """Append the separator for table head."""
+        self._rows.append([separator])
+    def append_cell(self, cell_lines):
+        """cell_lines is an array of lines"""
+        start = 0
+        if len(cell_lines)>0 and cell_lines[0] == '.sp\n':
+            start = 1
+        self._rows[-1].append(cell_lines[start:])
+        if len(self._coldefs) < len(self._rows[-1]):
+            self._coldefs.append('l')
+    def _minimize_cell(self, cell_lines):
+        """Remove leading and trailing blank and ``.sp`` lines"""
+        while (cell_lines and cell_lines[0] in ('\n', '.sp\n')):
+            del cell_lines[0]
+        while (cell_lines and cell_lines[-1] in ('\n', '.sp\n')):
+            del cell_lines[-1]
+    def as_list(self):
+        text = ['.TS\n']
+        text.append(' '.join(self._options) + ';\n')
+        text.append('|%s|.\n' % ('|'.join(self._coldefs)))
+        for row in self._rows:
+            # row = array of cells. cell = array of lines.
+            text.append('_\n')       # line above 
+            text.append('T{\n')
+            for i in range(len(row)):
+                cell = row[i]
+                self._minimize_cell(cell)
+                text.extend(cell)
+                if not text[-1].endswith('\n'):
+                    text[-1] += '\n'
+                if i < len(row)-1:
+                    text.append('T}'+self._tab_char+'T{\n')
+                else:
+                    text.append('T}\n')
+        text.append('_\n')
+        text.append('.TE\n')
+        return text
+
+class Translator(nodes.NodeVisitor):
+    """"""
+
+    words_and_spaces = re.compile(r'\S+| +|\n')
+    document_start = """Man page generated from reStructeredText."""
+
+    def __init__(self, document):
+        nodes.NodeVisitor.__init__(self, document)
+        self.settings = settings = document.settings
+        lcode = settings.language_code
+        self.language = languages.get_language(lcode)
+        self.head = []
+        self.body = []
+        self.foot = []
+        self.section_level = 0
+        self.context = []
+        self.topic_class = ''
+        self.colspecs = []
+        self.compact_p = 1
+        self.compact_simple = None
+        # the list style "*" bullet or "#" numbered
+        self._list_char = []
+        # writing the header .TH and .SH NAME is postboned after
+        # docinfo.
+        self._docinfo = {
+                "title" : "", "title_upper": "",
+                "subtitle" : "",
+                "manual_section" : "", "manual_group" : "",
+                "author" : [], 
+                "date" : "", 
+                "copyright" : "",
+                "version" : "",
+                    }
+        self._docinfo_keys = []     # a list to keep the sequence as in source.
+        self._docinfo_names = {}    # to get name from text not normalized.
+        self._in_docinfo = None
+        self._active_table = None
+        self._in_literal = False
+        self.header_written = 0
+        self._line_block = 0
+        self.authors = []
+        self.section_level = 0
+        self._indent = [0]
+        # central definition of simple processing rules
+        # what to output on : visit, depart
+        # Do not use paragraph requests ``.PP`` because these set indentation.
+        # use ``.sp``. Remove superfluous ``.sp`` in ``astext``.
+        #
+        # Fonts are put on a stack, the top one is used.
+        # ``.ft P`` or ``\\fP`` pop from stack.
+        # ``B`` bold, ``I`` italic, ``R`` roman should be available.
+        # Hopefully ``C`` courier too.
+        self.defs = {
+                'indent' : ('.INDENT %.1f\n', '.UNINDENT\n'),
+                'definition_list_item' : ('.TP', ''),
+                'field_name' : ('.TP\n.B ', '\n'),
+                'literal' : ('\\fC', '\\fP'),
+                'literal_block' : ('.sp\n.nf\n.ft C\n', '\n.ft P\n.fi\n'),
+
+                'option_list_item' : ('.TP\n', ''),
+                
+                'reference' : (r'\fI\%', r'\fP'),
+                'emphasis': ('\\fI', '\\fP'),
+                'strong' : ('\\fB', '\\fP'),
+                'term' : ('\n.B ', '\n'),
+                'title_reference' : ('\\fI', '\\fP'),
+
+                'topic-title' : ('.SS ', ),
+                'sidebar-title' : ('.SS ', ),
+
+                'problematic' : ('\n.nf\n', '\n.fi\n'),
+                    }
+        # NOTE dont specify the newline before a dot-command, but ensure
+        # it is there.
+
+    def comment_begin(self, text):
+        """Return commented version of the passed text WITHOUT end of
+        line/comment."""
+        prefix = '.\\" '
+        out_text = ''.join(
+            [(prefix + in_line + '\n')
+            for in_line in text.split('\n')])
+        return out_text
+
+    def comment(self, text):
+        """Return commented version of the passed text."""
+        return self.comment_begin(text)+'.\n'
+
+    def ensure_eol(self):
+        """Ensure the last line in body is terminated by new line."""
+        if self.body[-1][-1] != '\n':
+            self.body.append('\n')
+
+    def astext(self):
+        """Return the final formatted document as a string."""
+        if not self.header_written:
+            # ensure we get a ".TH" as viewers require it.
+            self.head.append(self.header())
+        # filter body
+        for i in xrange(len(self.body)-1,0,-1):
+            # remove superfluous vertical gaps.
+            if self.body[i] == '.sp\n':
+                if self.body[i-1][:4] in ('.BI ','.IP '):
+                    self.body[i] = '.\n'
+                elif (self.body[i-1][:3] == '.B ' and
+                    self.body[i-2][:4] == '.TP\n'):
+                    self.body[i] = '.\n'
+                elif (self.body[i-1] == '\n' and 
+                    self.body[i-2][0] != '.' and
+                    (self.body[i-3][:7] == '.TP\n.B '
+                        or self.body[i-3][:4] == '\n.B ')
+                     ):
+                    self.body[i] = '.\n'
+        return ''.join(self.head + self.body + self.foot)
+
+    def deunicode(self, text):
+        text = text.replace(u'\xa0', '\\ ')
+        text = text.replace(u'\u2020', '\\(dg')
+        return text
+
+    def visit_Text(self, node):
+        text = node.astext()
+        text = text.replace('\\','\\e')
+        replace_pairs = [
+            (u'-', ur'\-'),
+            (u'\'', ur'\(aq'),
+            (u'´', ur'\''),
+            (u'`', ur'\(ga'),
+            ]
+        for (in_char, out_markup) in replace_pairs:
+            text = text.replace(in_char, out_markup)
+        # unicode
+        text = self.deunicode(text)
+        if self._in_literal:
+            # prevent interpretation of "." at line start
+            if text[0] == '.':
+                text = '\\&' + text
+            text = text.replace('\n.', '\n\\&.')
+        self.body.append(text)
+
+    def depart_Text(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def list_start(self, node):
+        class enum_char:
+            enum_style = {
+                    'bullet'     : '\\(bu',
+                    'emdash'     : '\\(em',
+                     }
+
+            def __init__(self, style):
+                self._style = style
+                if node.has_key('start'):
+                    self._cnt = node['start'] - 1
+                else:
+                    self._cnt = 0
+                self._indent = 2
+                if style == 'arabic':
+                    # indentation depends on number of childrens
+                    # and start value.
+                    self._indent = len(str(len(node.children)))
+                    self._indent += len(str(self._cnt)) + 1
+                elif style == 'loweralpha':
+                    self._cnt += ord('a') - 1
+                    self._indent = 3
+                elif style == 'upperalpha':
+                    self._cnt += ord('A') - 1
+                    self._indent = 3
+                elif style.endswith('roman'):
+                    self._indent = 5
+
+            def next(self):
+                if self._style == 'bullet':
+                    return self.enum_style[self._style]
+                elif self._style == 'emdash':
+                    return self.enum_style[self._style]
+                self._cnt += 1
+                # TODO add prefix postfix
+                if self._style == 'arabic':
+                    return "%d." % self._cnt
+                elif self._style in ('loweralpha', 'upperalpha'):
+                    return "%c." % self._cnt
+                elif self._style.endswith('roman'):
+                    res = roman.toRoman(self._cnt) + '.'
+                    if self._style.startswith('upper'):
+                        return res.upper()
+                    return res.lower()
+                else:
+                    return "%d." % self._cnt
+            def get_width(self):
+                return self._indent
+            def __repr__(self):
+                return 'enum_style-%s' % list(self._style)
+
+        if node.has_key('enumtype'):
+            self._list_char.append(enum_char(node['enumtype']))
+        else:
+            self._list_char.append(enum_char('bullet'))
+        if len(self._list_char) > 1:
+            # indent nested lists
+            self.indent(self._list_char[-2].get_width())
+        else:
+            self.indent(self._list_char[-1].get_width())
+
+    def list_end(self):
+        self.dedent()
+        self._list_char.pop()
+
+    def header(self):
+        tmpl = (".TH %(title_upper)s %(manual_section)s"
+                " \"%(date)s\" \"%(version)s\" \"%(manual_group)s\"\n"
+                ".SH NAME\n"
+                "%(title)s \- %(subtitle)s\n")
+        return tmpl % self._docinfo
+
+    def append_header(self):
+        """append header with .TH and .SH NAME"""
+        # NOTE before everything
+        # .TH title_upper section date source manual
+        if self.header_written:
+            return
+        self.body.append(self.header())
+        self.body.append(MACRO_DEF)
+        self.header_written = 1
+
+    def visit_address(self, node):
+        self.visit_docinfo_item(node, 'address')
+
+    def depart_address(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def visit_admonition(self, node, name=None):
+        if name:
+            self.body.append('.IP %s\n' %
+                        self.language.labels.get(name, name))
+
+    def depart_admonition(self, node):
+        self.body.append('.RE\n')
+
+    def visit_attention(self, node):
+        self.visit_admonition(node, 'attention')
+
+    depart_attention = depart_admonition
+
+    def visit_docinfo_item(self, node, name):
+        if name == 'author':
+            self._docinfo[name].append(node.astext())
+        else:
+            self._docinfo[name] = node.astext()
+        self._docinfo_keys.append(name)
+        raise nodes.SkipNode
+
+    def depart_docinfo_item(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def visit_author(self, node):
+        self.visit_docinfo_item(node, 'author')
+
+    depart_author = depart_docinfo_item
+
+    def visit_authors(self, node):
+        # _author is called anyway.
+        pass
+
+    def depart_authors(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def visit_block_quote(self, node):
+        # BUG/HACK: indent alway uses the _last_ indention,
+        # thus we need two of them.
+        self.indent(BLOCKQOUTE_INDENT)
+        self.indent(0)
+
+    def depart_block_quote(self, node):
+        self.dedent()
+        self.dedent()
+
+    def visit_bullet_list(self, node):
+        self.list_start(node)
+
+    def depart_bullet_list(self, node):
+        self.list_end()
+
+    def visit_caption(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def depart_caption(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def visit_caution(self, node):
+        self.visit_admonition(node, 'caution')
+
+    depart_caution = depart_admonition
+
+    def visit_citation(self, node):
+        num,text = node.astext().split(None,1)
+        num = num.strip()
+        self.body.append('.IP [%s] 5\n' % num)
+
+    def depart_citation(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def visit_citation_reference(self, node):
+        self.body.append('['+node.astext()+']')
+        raise nodes.SkipNode
+
+    def visit_classifier(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def depart_classifier(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def visit_colspec(self, node):
+        self.colspecs.append(node)
+
+    def depart_colspec(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def write_colspecs(self):
+        self.body.append("%s.\n" % ('L '*len(self.colspecs)))
+
+    def visit_comment(self, node,
+                      sub=re.compile('-(?=-)').sub):
+        self.body.append(self.comment(node.astext()))
+        raise nodes.SkipNode
+
+    def visit_contact(self, node):
+        self.visit_docinfo_item(node, 'contact')
+
+    depart_contact = depart_docinfo_item
+
+    def visit_container(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def depart_container(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def visit_compound(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def depart_compound(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def visit_copyright(self, node):
+        self.visit_docinfo_item(node, 'copyright')
+
+    def visit_danger(self, node):
+        self.visit_admonition(node, 'danger')
+
+    depart_danger = depart_admonition
+
+    def visit_date(self, node):
+        self.visit_docinfo_item(node, 'date')
+
+    def visit_decoration(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def depart_decoration(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def visit_definition(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def depart_definition(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def visit_definition_list(self, node):
+        self.indent(DEFINITION_LIST_INDENT)
+
+    def depart_definition_list(self, node):
+        self.dedent()
+
+    def visit_definition_list_item(self, node):
+        self.body.append(self.defs['definition_list_item'][0])
+
+    def depart_definition_list_item(self, node):
+        self.body.append(self.defs['definition_list_item'][1])
+
+    def visit_description(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def depart_description(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def visit_docinfo(self, node):
+        self._in_docinfo = 1
+
+    def depart_docinfo(self, node):
+        self._in_docinfo = None
+        # NOTE nothing should be written before this
+        self.append_header()
+
+    def visit_doctest_block(self, node):
+        self.body.append(self.defs['literal_block'][0])
+        self._in_literal = True
+
+    def depart_doctest_block(self, node):
+        self._in_literal = False
+        self.body.append(self.defs['literal_block'][1])
+
+    def visit_document(self, node):
+        # no blank line between comment and header.
+        self.body.append(self.comment(self.document_start).rstrip()+'\n')
+        # writing header is postboned
+        self.header_written = 0
+
+    def depart_document(self, node):
+        if self._docinfo['author']:
+            self.body.append('.SH AUTHOR\n%s\n' 
+                    % ', '.join(self._docinfo['author']))
+        skip = ('author', 'copyright', 'date',
+                'manual_group', 'manual_section', 
+                'subtitle',
+                'title', 'title_upper', 'version')
+        for name in self._docinfo_keys:
+            if name == 'address':
+                self.body.append("\n%s:\n%s%s.nf\n%s\n.fi\n%s%s" % (
+                                    self.language.labels.get(name, name),
+                                    self.defs['indent'][0] % 0,
+                                    self.defs['indent'][0] % BLOCKQOUTE_INDENT,
+                                    self._docinfo[name],
+                                    self.defs['indent'][1],
+                                    self.defs['indent'][1],
+                                    ) )
+            elif not name in skip:
+                if name in self._docinfo_names:
+                    label = self._docinfo_names[name]
+                else:
+                    label = self.language.labels.get(name, name)
+                self.body.append("\n%s: %s\n" % (label, self._docinfo[name]) )
+        if self._docinfo['copyright']:
+            self.body.append('.SH COPYRIGHT\n%s\n' 
+                    % self._docinfo['copyright'])
+        self.body.append( self.comment(
+                        'Generated by docutils manpage writer.\n' ) )
+
+    def visit_emphasis(self, node):
+        self.body.append(self.defs['emphasis'][0])
+
+    def depart_emphasis(self, node):
+        self.body.append(self.defs['emphasis'][1])
+
+    def visit_entry(self, node):
+        # a cell in a table row
+        if 'morerows' in node:
+            self.document.reporter.warning('"table row spanning" not supported',
+                    base_node=node)
+        if 'morecols' in node:
+            self.document.reporter.warning(
+                    '"table cell spanning" not supported', base_node=node)
+        self.context.append(len(self.body))
+
+    def depart_entry(self, node):
+        start = self.context.pop()
+        self._active_table.append_cell(self.body[start:])
+        del self.body[start:]
+
+    def visit_enumerated_list(self, node):
+        self.list_start(node)
+
+    def depart_enumerated_list(self, node):
+        self.list_end()
+
+    def visit_error(self, node):
+        self.visit_admonition(node, 'error')
+
+    depart_error = depart_admonition
+
+    def visit_field(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def depart_field(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def visit_field_body(self, node):
+        if self._in_docinfo:
+            name_normalized = self._field_name.lower().replace(" ","_")
+            self._docinfo_names[name_normalized] = self._field_name
+            self.visit_docinfo_item(node, name_normalized)
+            raise nodes.SkipNode
+
+    def depart_field_body(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def visit_field_list(self, node):
+        self.indent(FIELD_LIST_INDENT)
+
+    def depart_field_list(self, node):
+        self.dedent()
+
+    def visit_field_name(self, node):
+        if self._in_docinfo:
+            self._field_name = node.astext()
+            raise nodes.SkipNode
+        else:
+            self.body.append(self.defs['field_name'][0])
+
+    def depart_field_name(self, node):
+        self.body.append(self.defs['field_name'][1])
+
+    def visit_figure(self, node):
+        self.indent(2.5)
+        self.indent(0)
+
+    def depart_figure(self, node):
+        self.dedent()
+        self.dedent()
+
+    def visit_footer(self, node):
+        self.document.reporter.warning('"footer" not supported',
+                base_node=node)
+
+    def depart_footer(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def visit_footnote(self, node):
+        num,text = node.astext().split(None,1)
+        num = num.strip()
+        self.body.append('.IP [%s] 5\n' % self.deunicode(num))
+
+    def depart_footnote(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def footnote_backrefs(self, node):
+        self.document.reporter.warning('"footnote_backrefs" not supported',
+                base_node=node)
+
+    def visit_footnote_reference(self, node):
+        self.body.append('['+self.deunicode(node.astext())+']')
+        raise nodes.SkipNode
+
+    def depart_footnote_reference(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def visit_generated(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def depart_generated(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def visit_header(self, node):
+        raise NotImplementedError, node.astext()
+
+    def depart_header(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def visit_hint(self, node):
+        self.visit_admonition(node, 'hint')
+
+    depart_hint = depart_admonition
+
+    def visit_subscript(self, node):
+        self.body.append('\\s-2\\d')
+
+    def depart_subscript(self, node):
+        self.body.append('\\u\\s0')
+
+    def visit_superscript(self, node):
+        self.body.append('\\s-2\\u')
+
+    def depart_superscript(self, node):
+        self.body.append('\\d\\s0')
+
+    def visit_attribution(self, node):
+        self.body.append('\\(em ')
+
+    def depart_attribution(self, node):
+        self.body.append('\n')
+
+    def visit_image(self, node):
+        self.document.reporter.warning('"image" not supported',
+                base_node=node)
+        text = []
+        if 'alt' in node.attributes:
+            text.append(node.attributes['alt'])
+        if 'uri' in node.attributes:
+            text.append(node.attributes['uri'])
+        self.body.append('[image: %s]\n' % ('/'.join(text)))
+        raise nodes.SkipNode
+
+    def visit_important(self, node):
+        self.visit_admonition(node, 'important')
+
+    depart_important = depart_admonition
+
+    def visit_label(self, node):
+        # footnote and citation
+        if (isinstance(node.parent, nodes.footnote)
+            or isinstance(node.parent, nodes.citation)):
+            raise nodes.SkipNode
+        self.document.reporter.warning('"unsupported "label"',
+                base_node=node)
+        self.body.append('[')
+
+    def depart_label(self, node):
+        self.body.append(']\n')
+
+    def visit_legend(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def depart_legend(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    # WHAT should we use .INDENT, .UNINDENT ?
+    def visit_line_block(self, node):
+        self._line_block += 1
+        if self._line_block == 1:
+            self.body.append('.nf\n')
+        else:
+            self.body.append('.in +2\n')
+
+    def depart_line_block(self, node):
+        self._line_block -= 1
+        if self._line_block == 0:
+            self.body.append('.fi\n')
+            self.body.append('.sp\n')
+        else:
+            self.body.append('.in -2\n')
+
+    def visit_line(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def depart_line(self, node):
+        self.body.append('\n')
+
+    def visit_list_item(self, node):
+        # man 7 man argues to use ".IP" instead of ".TP"
+        self.body.append('.IP %s %d\n' % (
+                self._list_char[-1].next(),
+                self._list_char[-1].get_width(),) )
+
+    def depart_list_item(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def visit_literal(self, node):
+        self.body.append(self.defs['literal'][0])
+
+    def depart_literal(self, node):
+        self.body.append(self.defs['literal'][1])
+
+    def visit_literal_block(self, node):
+        self.body.append(self.defs['literal_block'][0])
+        self._in_literal = True
+
+    def depart_literal_block(self, node):
+        self._in_literal = False
+        self.body.append(self.defs['literal_block'][1])
+
+    def visit_meta(self, node):
+        raise NotImplementedError, node.astext()
+
+    def depart_meta(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def visit_note(self, node):
+        self.visit_admonition(node, 'note')
+
+    depart_note = depart_admonition
+
+    def indent(self, by=0.5):
+        # if we are in a section ".SH" there already is a .RS
+        step = self._indent[-1]
+        self._indent.append(by)
+        self.body.append(self.defs['indent'][0] % step)
+
+    def dedent(self):
+        self._indent.pop()
+        self.body.append(self.defs['indent'][1])
+
+    def visit_option_list(self, node):
+        self.indent(OPTION_LIST_INDENT)
+
+    def depart_option_list(self, node):
+        self.dedent()
+
+    def visit_option_list_item(self, node):
+        # one item of the list
+        self.body.append(self.defs['option_list_item'][0])
+
+    def depart_option_list_item(self, node):
+        self.body.append(self.defs['option_list_item'][1])
+
+    def visit_option_group(self, node):
+        # as one option could have several forms it is a group
+        # options without parameter bold only, .B, -v
+        # options with parameter bold italic, .BI, -f file
+        #
+        # we do not know if .B or .BI
+        self.context.append('.B')           # blind guess
+        self.context.append(len(self.body)) # to be able to insert later
+        self.context.append(0)              # option counter
+
+    def depart_option_group(self, node):
+        self.context.pop()  # the counter
+        start_position = self.context.pop()
+        text = self.body[start_position:]
+        del self.body[start_position:]
+        self.body.append('%s%s\n' % (self.context.pop(), ''.join(text)))
+
+    def visit_option(self, node):
+        # each form of the option will be presented separately
+        if self.context[-1]>0:
+            self.body.append(', ')
+        if self.context[-3] == '.BI':
+            self.body.append('\\')
+        self.body.append(' ')
+
+    def depart_option(self, node):
+        self.context[-1] += 1
+
+    def visit_option_string(self, node):
+        # do not know if .B or .BI
+        pass
+
+    def depart_option_string(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def visit_option_argument(self, node):
+        self.context[-3] = '.BI' # bold/italic alternate
+        if node['delimiter'] != ' ':
+            self.body.append('\\fB%s ' % node['delimiter'] )
+        elif self.body[len(self.body)-1].endswith('='):
+            # a blank only means no blank in output, just changing font
+            self.body.append(' ')
+        else:
+            # blank backslash blank, switch font then a blank
+            self.body.append(' \\ ')
+
+    def depart_option_argument(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def visit_organization(self, node):
+        self.visit_docinfo_item(node, 'organization')
+
+    def depart_organization(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def visit_paragraph(self, node):
+        # ``.PP`` : Start standard indented paragraph.
+        # ``.LP`` : Start block paragraph, all except the first.
+        # ``.P [type]``  : Start paragraph type. 
+        # NOTE dont use paragraph starts because they reset indentation.
+        # ``.sp`` is only vertical space
+        self.ensure_eol()
+        self.body.append('.sp\n')
+
+    def depart_paragraph(self, node):
+        self.body.append('\n')
+
+    def visit_problematic(self, node):
+        self.body.append(self.defs['problematic'][0])
+
+    def depart_problematic(self, node):
+        self.body.append(self.defs['problematic'][1])
+
+    def visit_raw(self, node):
+        if node.get('format') == 'manpage':
+            self.body.append(node.astext() + "\n")
+        # Keep non-manpage raw text out of output:
+        raise nodes.SkipNode
+
+    def visit_reference(self, node):
+        """E.g. link or email address."""
+        self.body.append(self.defs['reference'][0])
+
+    def depart_reference(self, node):
+        self.body.append(self.defs['reference'][1])
+
+    def visit_revision(self, node):
+        self.visit_docinfo_item(node, 'revision')
+
+    depart_revision = depart_docinfo_item
+
+    def visit_row(self, node):
+        self._active_table.new_row()
+
+    def depart_row(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def visit_section(self, node):
+        self.section_level += 1
+
+    def depart_section(self, node):
+        self.section_level -= 1
+
+    def visit_status(self, node):
+        self.visit_docinfo_item(node, 'status')
+
+    depart_status = depart_docinfo_item
+
+    def visit_strong(self, node):
+        self.body.append(self.defs['strong'][0])
+
+    def depart_strong(self, node):
+        self.body.append(self.defs['strong'][1])
+
+    def visit_substitution_definition(self, node):
+        """Internal only."""
+        raise nodes.SkipNode
+
+    def visit_substitution_reference(self, node):
+        self.document.reporter.warning('"substitution_reference" not supported',
+                base_node=node)
+
+    def visit_subtitle(self, node):
+        if isinstance(node.parent, nodes.sidebar):
+            self.body.append(self.defs['strong'][0])
+        elif isinstance(node.parent, nodes.document):
+            self.visit_docinfo_item(node, 'subtitle')
+        elif isinstance(node.parent, nodes.section):
+            self.body.append(self.defs['strong'][0])
+
+    def depart_subtitle(self, node):
+        # document subtitle calls SkipNode
+        self.body.append(self.defs['strong'][1]+'\n.PP\n')
+
+    def visit_system_message(self, node):
+        # TODO add report_level
+        #if node['level'] < self.document.reporter['writer'].report_level:
+        #    Level is too low to display:
+        #    raise nodes.SkipNode
+        attr = {}
+        backref_text = ''
+        if node.hasattr('id'):
+            attr['name'] = node['id']
+        if node.hasattr('line'):
+            line = ', line %s' % node['line']
+        else:
+            line = ''
+        self.body.append('.IP "System Message: %s/%s (%s:%s)"\n'
+                         % (node['type'], node['level'], node['source'], line))
+
+    def depart_system_message(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def visit_table(self, node):
+        self._active_table = Table()
+
+    def depart_table(self, node):
+        self.ensure_eol()
+        self.body.extend(self._active_table.as_list())
+        self._active_table = None
+
+    def visit_target(self, node):
+        # targets are in-document hyper targets, without any use for man-pages.
+        raise nodes.SkipNode
+
+    def visit_tbody(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def depart_tbody(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def visit_term(self, node):
+        self.body.append(self.defs['term'][0])
+
+    def depart_term(self, node):
+        self.body.append(self.defs['term'][1])
+
+    def visit_tgroup(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def depart_tgroup(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def visit_thead(self, node):
+        # MAYBE double line '='
+        pass
+
+    def depart_thead(self, node):
+        # MAYBE double line '='
+        pass
+
+    def visit_tip(self, node):
+        self.visit_admonition(node, 'tip')
+
+    depart_tip = depart_admonition
+
+    def visit_title(self, node):
+        if isinstance(node.parent, nodes.topic):
+            self.body.append(self.defs['topic-title'][0])
+        elif isinstance(node.parent, nodes.sidebar):
+            self.body.append(self.defs['sidebar-title'][0])
+        elif isinstance(node.parent, nodes.admonition):
+            self.body.append('.IP "')
+        elif self.section_level == 0:
+            self._docinfo['title'] = node.astext()
+            # document title for .TH
+            self._docinfo['title_upper'] = node.astext().upper()
+            raise nodes.SkipNode
+        elif self.section_level == 1:
+            self.body.append('.SH ')
+        else:
+            self.body.append('.SS ')
+
+    def depart_title(self, node):
+        if isinstance(node.parent, nodes.admonition):
+            self.body.append('"')
+        self.body.append('\n')
+
+    def visit_title_reference(self, node):
+        """inline citation reference"""
+        self.body.append(self.defs['title_reference'][0])
+
+    def depart_title_reference(self, node):
+        self.body.append(self.defs['title_reference'][1])
+
+    def visit_topic(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def depart_topic(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def visit_sidebar(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def depart_sidebar(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def visit_rubric(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def depart_rubric(self, node):
+        pass
+
+    def visit_transition(self, node):
+        # .PP      Begin a new paragraph and reset prevailing indent.
+        # .sp N    leaves N lines of blank space.
+        # .ce      centers the next line
+        self.body.append('\n.sp\n.ce\n----\n')
+
+    def depart_transition(self, node):
+        self.body.append('\n.ce 0\n.sp\n')
+
+    def visit_version(self, node):
+        self.visit_docinfo_item(node, 'version')
+
+    def visit_warning(self, node):
+        self.visit_admonition(node, 'warning')
+
+    depart_warning = depart_admonition
+
+    def unimplemented_visit(self, node):
+        raise NotImplementedError('visiting unimplemented node type: %s'
+                                  % node.__class__.__name__)
+
+# The following part is taken from the Docutils rst2man.py script:
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    from docutils.core import publish_cmdline, default_description
+    description = ("Generates plain unix manual documents.  " +
+                   default_description)
+    publish_cmdline(writer=Writer(), description=description)
+
+# vim: set fileencoding=utf-8 et ts=4 ai :