diff --git a/top/top.1 b/top/top.1
index d0889155..741d2e0b 100644
--- a/top/top.1
+++ b/top/top.1
@@ -53,8 +53,9 @@
 .ds CG \'current\' window/field group
 .ds CI interactive command
 \#                           - Note: our 'Command Line' used in 2 places
-.ds CL \-\fBhv\fR|\-\fBbcHiSs\fR \-\fBd\fR delay \-\fBn\fR limit \
-\-\fBu\fR|\fBU\fR user \-\fBp\fR pid[,pid] \-\fBw\fR [cols] \fR
+\#                           ( and managed to fit in an 80x24 terminal )
+.ds CL \-\fBhv\fR|\-\fBbcHiOSs\fR \-\fBd\fR secs \-\fBn\fR max \
+\-\fBu\fR|\fBU\fR user \-\fBp\fR pid \-\fBo\fR fld \-\fBw\fR [cols] \fR
 .ds CO command\-line option
 .ds CT command toggle
 .ds CW \'current\' window
@@ -301,6 +302,21 @@ For additional information regarding this toggle
 Specifies the maximum number of iterations, or frames, \*(We should
 produce before ending.
 
+.TP 5
+\-\fBo\fR :\fI Override-sort-field\fR as:\fB\ \ \-o fieldname \fR
+Specifies the name of the field on which tasks will be sorted, independent
+of what is reflected in the configuration file.
+
+This option exists primarily to support automated/scripted batch mode
+operation.
+
+.TP 5
+\-\fBO\fR :\fI Output-field-names \fR
+This option acts as a form of help for the above \-o option.
+It will cause \*(We to print each of the available field names on a
+separate line, then quit.
+Such names are subject to nls translation.
+
 .TP 5
 \-\fBp\fR :\fI Monitor-PIDs\fR mode as:\fB\ \ \-pN1 -pN2 ...\fR\ \ or\fB\ \ \-pN1,N2,N3 ... \fR
 Monitor only processes with specified process IDs.
diff --git a/top/top.c b/top/top.c
index 7df93888..1a7b7576 100644
--- a/top/top.c
+++ b/top/top.c
@@ -3177,6 +3177,7 @@ static void parse_args (char **args) {
    static const char numbs_str[] = "+,-.0123456789";
    float tmp_delay = MAXFLOAT;
    char *p;
+   int i;
 
    while (*args) {
       const char *cp = *(args++);
@@ -3212,8 +3213,8 @@ static void parse_args (char **args) {
                break;
             case 'h':
             case 'v':
-               fprintf(stdout, N_fmt(HELP_cmdline_fmt)
-                  , procps_version, Myname, N_txt(USAGE_abbrev_txt));
+               puts(fmtmk(N_fmt(HELP_cmdline_fmt)
+                  , procps_version, Myname, N_txt(USAGE_abbrev_txt)));
                bye_bye(NULL);
             case 'i':
                TOGw(Curwin, Show_IDLEPS);
@@ -3226,9 +3227,25 @@ static void parse_args (char **args) {
                if (1 != sscanf(cp, "%d", &Loops) || 1 > Loops)
                   error_exit(fmtmk(N_fmt(BAD_niterate_fmt), cp));
                break;
+            case 'o':
+               if (cp[1]) cp++;
+               else if (*args) cp = *args++;
+               else error_exit(fmtmk(N_fmt(MISSING_args_fmt), ch));
+               for (i = 0; i < P_MAXPFLGS; i++)
+                  if (!STRCMP(cp, N_col(i))) break;
+               if (i == P_MAXPFLGS)
+                  error_exit(fmtmk(N_fmt(XTRA_sortopt_fmt), cp));
+               OFFw(Curwin, Show_FOREST);
+               Curwin->rc.sortindx = i;
+               cp += strlen(cp);
+               break;
+            case 'O':
+               for (i = 0; i < P_MAXPFLGS; i++)
+                  puts(N_col(i));
+               bye_bye(NULL);
             case 'p':
                if (Curwin->usrseltyp) error_exit(N_txt(SELECT_clash_txt));
-               do { int i, pid;
+               do { int pid;
                   if (cp[1]) cp++;
                   else if (*args) cp = *args++;
                   else error_exit(fmtmk(N_fmt(MISSING_args_fmt), ch));
diff --git a/top/top_nls.c b/top/top_nls.c
index 80d9b080..5d6f5f68 100644
--- a/top/top_nls.c
+++ b/top/top_nls.c
@@ -278,10 +278,10 @@ static void build_norm_nlstab (void) {
       "\tsee http://www.debian.org/Bugs/Reporting\n");
    Norm_nlstab[WRONG_switch_fmt] = _(""
       "inappropriate '%s'\n"
-      "usage:\t%s%s");
+      "Usage:\n  %s%s");
    Norm_nlstab[HELP_cmdline_fmt] = _(""
-      "\t%s\n"
-      "usage:\t%s%s");
+      "  %s\n"
+      "Usage:\n  %s%s");
    Norm_nlstab[FAIL_statopn_fmt] = _("failed /proc/stat open: %s");
    Norm_nlstab[FAIL_openlib_fmt] = _("failed openproc: %s");
    Norm_nlstab[BAD_delayint_fmt] = _("bad delay interval '%s'");
@@ -292,14 +292,14 @@ static void build_norm_nlstab (void) {
    Norm_nlstab[BAD_widtharg_fmt] = _("bad width arg '%s', must > %d");
    Norm_nlstab[UNKNOWN_opts_fmt] = _(""
       "unknown option '%c'\n"
-      "usage:\t%s%s");
+      "Usage:\n  %s%s");
    Norm_nlstab[DELAY_secure_txt] = _("-d disallowed in \"secure\" mode");
    Norm_nlstab[DELAY_badarg_txt] = _("-d requires positive argument");
    Norm_nlstab[ON_word_only_txt] = _("On");
    Norm_nlstab[OFF_one_word_txt] = _("Off");
 /* Translation Hint: Only the following words should be translated
    .                 delay, limit, user, cols (abbreviation for columns)*/
-   Norm_nlstab[USAGE_abbrev_txt] = _(" -hv | -bcHiSs -d delay -n limit -u|U user -p pid[,pid] -w [cols]");
+   Norm_nlstab[USAGE_abbrev_txt] = _(" -hv | -bcHiOSs -d secs -n max -u|U user -p pid(s) -o field -w [cols]");
    Norm_nlstab[FAIL_statget_txt] = _("failed /proc/stat read");
    Norm_nlstab[FOREST_modes_fmt] = _("Forest mode %s");
    Norm_nlstab[FAIL_tty_get_txt] = _("failed tty get");
@@ -369,6 +369,7 @@ static void build_norm_nlstab (void) {
    Norm_nlstab[FIND_no_find_fmt] = _("%s\"%s\" not found");
    Norm_nlstab[XTRA_fixwide_fmt] = _("width incr is %d, change to (0 default, -1 auto)");
    Norm_nlstab[XTRA_warncfg_txt] = _("Overwrite existing obsolete/corrupted rcfile?");
+   Norm_nlstab[XTRA_sortopt_fmt] = _("unrecognized field name '%s'");
 #ifndef INSP_OFFDEMO
    Norm_nlstab[YINSP_demo01_txt] = _("Open Files");
    Norm_nlstab[YINSP_demo02_txt] = _("NUMA Info");
diff --git a/top/top_nls.h b/top/top_nls.h
index 6954c08a..639e6f54 100644
--- a/top/top_nls.h
+++ b/top/top_nls.h
@@ -80,10 +80,7 @@ enum norm_nls {
    THREADS_show_fmt, TIME_accumed_fmt, UNKNOWN_cmds_txt, UNKNOWN_opts_fmt,
    USAGE_abbrev_txt, WORD_allcpus_txt, WORD_another_txt, WORD_eachcpu_fmt,
    WORD_process_txt, WORD_threads_txt, WRITE_rcfile_fmt, WRONG_switch_fmt,
-   XTRA_fixwide_fmt,
-#ifndef WARN_CFG_OFF
-   XTRA_warncfg_txt,
-#endif
+   XTRA_fixwide_fmt, XTRA_sortopt_fmt, XTRA_warncfg_txt,
 #ifndef INSP_OFFDEMO
    YINSP_demo01_txt, YINSP_demo02_txt, YINSP_demo03_txt, YINSP_deqfmt_txt,
    YINSP_deqtyp_txt, YINSP_dstory_txt,