yoda@ittatc.ATC.ITT.UUCP (Todd C. Williams) (08/06/86)
In trying to solve a problem with macro recursion caused be traps, I have been looking through the -me macros. I have come across many examples of something I have never seen before, nor can I find anywhere in the documentation. The declaration of the "end page" macro, for example, goes something like: .de @e \" --- end page .if \n@>2 .tm >> @e etc.. (another macro invoked on this line) What does this if line do???? Let's translate to English: IF the contents of the number register '@' is greater than 2 THEN send terminal message .......? 1. what does the number register '@' contain? 2. WHAT DOES '>>' do? if I put the line '.tm >> @e' somewhere other than WITHIN the macro, the string '>> @e' is simply printed on the terminal, but it behaves differently within the macro. 3. why is it '>> @e' from within the macro '@e'? This kind of stuff happens all over the -me macros, with '>>', '<<', and sometimes '--'. Please mail responses directly, whether or not you also post them, as this is not my site. Thanks in advance. +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Todd C. Williams | "Summer blonds | | ITT Defense Communications | revealing tan lines, | | Nutley, NJ | I'll make more moves than | | {decvax, et al.}!ittatc!dcdvaxb!tcw | ALLIED VAN LINES!" | | +1 201 284 3305 | --from: "I wanna be a lifeguard" | | I love to receive e-mail! | by BLOTTO | +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ -- +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Todd C. Williams | "Summer blonds | | ITT Defense Communications | revealing tan lines, | | Nutley, NJ | I'll make more moves than | | {decvax, et al.}!ittatc!dcdvaxb!tcw | ALLIED VAN LINES!" | | +1 201 284 3305 | --from: "I wanna be a lifeguard" | | I love to receive e-mail! | by BLOTTO | +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+