[net.unix-wizards] Line drawing/leaders with nroff

stevens@hsi.UUCP (02/15/84)

I want to generate a horizontal motion of a 2-character string,
using nroff, as in the table of contents:

	title . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  page#

Using the line drawing feature (\l'Nc') restricts you to a single
character, and a line of periods right next to each other just
doesn't look that good.  I also have need for this using nroff to
generate local memos where we use a line of asterisks separated
by a space ("* * * * * * " etc.) to delimit the to/from/subject/date
from the actual body.  Again, using a 2-character pattern ("* ") just
looks better than a line of asterisks right next to each other.
I have also tried the leader feature, but it too restricts you to
a single character.  Anyone know a way around this ??  Thanks.

	Richard Stevens
	Health Systems International, New Haven, CT
	{ decvax | hao | seismo | sdcsvax } ! kpno ! hsi ! stevens
                                             ihnp4 ! hsi ! stevens

phil@unisoft.UUCP (Phil Ronzone) (02/18/84)

First line .........
You can do it recursively, appending to a string your line stuff
until it's wide enough, as in:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
.de wi
.if \w'\\*(S1'<\\n(W1 .as S1 \\$1
.if \w'\\*(S1'<\\n(W1 .wi \\$1
..
.ds S1 HELLO
.nr W1 5i
.wi ".\ "
\*(S1
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Crude, real slow, but it only takes 10 seconds to think of.