gerwitz@Kodak.com (Paul Gerwitz) (04/30/91)
I would like to format a document in two column format similar to what you might find in a computer science journal. I though maybe 'tbl' would do the trick, but now I wonder if their might be a better way. Any suggestions ?? -- +----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Paul F Gerwitz WA2WPI | SMTP: gerwitz@kodak.com | | Eastman Kodak Co | UUCP: ..uunet!atexnet!kodak!eastman!gerwitz | +----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
npn@cbnewsl.att.com (nils-peter.nelson) (04/30/91)
The .2C macro in -ms and -mm, both included with DWB 3.1, produce 2 column output. The Tutorial in the troff documentation for DWB 3.1 includes a 20-line implementation. You most assuredly can't use tbl unless you read left-to-right across columns. I assume you want readers to read all of column 1 before starting column 2.
doug@letni.lonestar.org (Doug Davis) (05/01/91)
In article <1991Apr29.210724.5436@cbnewsl.att.com> npn@cbnewsl.att.com (nils-peter.nelson) plugs his employers overpriced product yet again: >The .2C macro in -ms and -mm, both included with DWB 3.1, >produce 2 column output. The Tutorial in the troff >documentation for DWB 3.1 includes a 20-line implementation. >You most assuredly can't use tbl unless you read left-to-right >across columns. BZZZZT! Ding! Sorry you lose, thank you for playing our game. For our consulation prize today we have here a quick and dirty example of using tbl to do multi-column text. Of course the borders are optional equipment and your milage may vary. .TS doublebox; lw(3i)|lw(3i). T{ This is a test of the national broadcasting system. This is a test of the national broadcasting system. This is a test of the national broadcasting system. This is a test of the national broadcasting system. This is a test of the national broadcasting system. T} T{ Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their filesystems. Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their filesystems. Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their filesystems. Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their filesystems. Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their filesystems. Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their filesystems. Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their filesystems. Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their filesystems. Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their filesystems. Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their filesystems. T} .TE __ Doug Davis/4409 Sarazen/Mesquite Texas, 75150/214-270-9226 {texsun|lawnet|smu}!letni!doug doug@letni.lonestar.org "Be seeing you..."
bamford@cbnewsd.att.com (harold.e.bamford) (05/01/91)
In article <1991Apr30.175357.8066@letni.lonestar.org> doug@letni.lonestar.org (Doug Davis) takes a poke at DWB 3.1 without thinking things through. Basically, somebody wanted 2 column mode. Nils-Peter Nelson (correctly) pointed out that DWB 3.1 provides this capability and he also pointed out that tbl was inadequate for 2 column output: >>The .2C macro in -ms and -mm, both included with DWB 3.1, >>produce 2 column output. The Tutorial in the troff >>documentation for DWB 3.1 includes a 20-line implementation. > >>You most assuredly can't use tbl unless you read left-to-right >>across columns. Doug Davis replies with this sneer: >BZZZZT! Ding! Sorry you lose, thank you for playing our game. For our >consulation prize today we have here a quick and dirty example of using >tbl to do multi-column text. ... simplistic case deleted ... If you want a multipage document with 2 columns throughout, then tbl is the wrong way to go. If there is too much in the first table entry to fit in the first column of the first page, it does indeed overflow into the second column. But then on the next page, only the 2nd column is shown (with the rest of the first table entry!), and it continues until the first table item is finished. Then only the first column is shown for as many pages as are needed. Further, the box only shows up on the first and last pages (though this might be different depending on the version of tbl being used). If you knew the placement of the table on the page and knew exactly how much to put in each table entry so as to fill exactly 1 column, then you could use tbl for 2 column output. Kinda tedious and defeats the whole purpose of having a computer format the document for you. It also means that you cannot have tables (formatted by tbl, that is) in your document. I don't remember the details of the original request, but the .2C macro is also available in older versions of DWB in -mm and -ms. -- Harold Bamford
zjae0b@trc.amoco.com (Jenni A. Etgen) (05/01/91)
In article <1991Apr30.175357.8066@letni.lonestar.org> doug@letni.lonestar.org (Doug Davis) writes: >In article <1991Apr29.210724.5436@cbnewsl.att.com> npn@cbnewsl.att.com (nils-peter.nelson) plugs his employers overpriced product yet again: > >>The .2C macro in -ms and -mm, both included with DWB 3.1, >>produce 2 column output. The Tutorial in the troff >>documentation for DWB 3.1 includes a 20-line implementation. > >>You most assuredly can't use tbl unless you read left-to-right >>across columns. > >BZZZZT! Ding! Sorry you lose, thank you for playing our game. For our >consulation prize today we have here a quick and dirty example of using >tbl to do multi-column text. Of course the borders are optional >equipment and your milage may vary. > >.TS >doublebox; >lw(3i)|lw(3i). >T{ >This is a test of the national broadcasting system. >This is a test of the national broadcasting system. >This is a test of the national broadcasting system. >This is a test of the national broadcasting system. >This is a test of the national broadcasting system. >T} T{ >Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their filesystems. >Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their filesystems. >Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their filesystems. >Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their filesystems. >Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their filesystems. >Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their filesystems. >Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their filesystems. >Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their filesystems. >Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their filesystems. >Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their filesystems. >T} >.TE > > >__ >Doug Davis/4409 Sarazen/Mesquite Texas, 75150/214-270-9226 >{texsun|lawnet|smu}!letni!doug doug@letni.lonestar.org > > "Be seeing you..." tbl will work IF the 2 columns are totally separate text, however IF the text just needs to flow from the first column to the second tbl CAN NOT handle this, also tbl has a limit on the number of text blocks you can use. in this case the only way to handle this with a pre-existing macro is with the .2C macro in mm or ms or write your own macro this I have done since I have some very special cases with 2 or more columns. Jenni Etgen zjae0b@trc.amoco.com 918-660-3392 Amoco Production Company 4502 East 41st Street P.0. Box 3385 Tulsa, OK 74102