david@varian.UUCP (David Brown) (10/08/85)
I am using (old) troff and -me macros on a VAX (4.1bsd and 4.2bsd).
The column macros (.2c, .1c, and .bc) do a nice job with columns, but
if the text fills up less than a full page, you end up with something
like a full length left column and a partial right column. Has anyone
written any multiple-column macros that allow one to have 2 equal
length columns?
e.g.
-------- --------
xxx xxx instead of xxx xxx
xxx xxx xxx
xxx xxx xxx
xxx
xxx
-------- ---------
It seems like one would need to send all output to a diversion, and
then when you hit a true page break (either the end of the 2nd column or
a .bp, etc.) you would divide the number of lines and output half in one
column and half in the other. I've never written any macros involving
diversions (and frankly am afraid of them...), so if anyone has already
done this, I'd appreciate it very much if they'd send me mail or post
their macro (I'm sure that others are interested). Any hints would be
appreciated.
A similar thing that I'd like to be able to do is leave blank space for
a full width diagram in a 2 column document.
--
David Brown (415) 945-2199
Varian Instruments 2700 Mitchell Dr. Walnut Creek, Ca. 94598
{zehntel,dual,amd,fortune,rtech}!varian!davidcarl@bdaemon.UUCP (carl) (10/14/85)
> I am using (old) troff and -me macros on a VAX (4.1bsd and 4.2bsd). > The column macros (.2c, .1c, and .bc) do a nice job with columns, but > if the text fills up less than a full page, you end up with something > like a full length left column and a partial right column. ....... > ......... Sounds like the perfect place to use 'tbl' rather than not too well designed macros. Carl Brandauer {allegra|amd|attunix|cbosgd|ucbvax|ut-sally}!nbires!bdaemon!carl
suze@terak.UUCP (Suzanne Barnett) (10/25/85)
> > I am using (old) troff and -me macros on a VAX (4.1bsd and 4.2bsd). > > The column macros (.2c, .1c, and .bc) do a nice job with columns, but > > if the text fills up less than a full page, you end up with something > > like a full length left column and a partial right column. ....... > > ......... > > Sounds like the perfect place to use 'tbl' rather than not too well > designed macros. > Except tbl doesn't fill or adjust the text. I've even tried using the "{T" and "}T" to get it to print more than one line. No good. If it worked, it'd be a nice solution. Another way is to run a draft, figure out where it should break and then go back and insert a ".bc". -- Suzanne Barnett-Scott uucp: ...{decvax,ihnp4,noao,savax,seismo}!terak!suze phone: (602) 998-4800 us mail: CalComp/Sanders Display Products Division (Formerly Terak Corporation) 14151 N 76th street, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
carl@bdaemon.UUCP (carl) (10/30/85)
> > > I am using (old) troff and -me macros on a VAX (4.1bsd and 4.2bsd). > > > The column macros (.2c, .1c, and .bc) do a nice job with columns, but > > > ......... > > > > Sounds like the perfect place to use 'tbl' rather than not too well > > designed macros. > > > > Except tbl doesn't fill or adjust the text. ....... The versions of 'tbl' I know (V7, SIII, SV and Uniplus) leave the matter of filling and adjusting to 'n/troff' where they belong. While I am not familiar with the 'me' macros, I do know that the display macros (.DS & .DF) in 'ms' and 'mm' by default turn off filling and hence adjustment. Your problem may stem from the fact that many documents recommend putting tables inside displays to keep them from breaking across page boundaries. There are two possible solutions: 1) Use an optional argument to the display macro to turn on filling; 2) Include .fi and .ad requests for each text block, i.e. T{ .fi .ad Your text typed as you like T} etc., etc. Hope this helps. Carl Brandauer