PCF1%VAXA.YORK.AC.UK@cunyvm.cuny.edu (06/01/89)
(This is basically a test to see if I can actually get to the group this time - using the umpteenth different pathname !) Does anybody out there use roff under minix for text processing ? I know that a lot of people will find it odd that I am using roff when there are many perfectly good WPS programs for the ST/PC but I happen to prefer it. Anyawy, after playing with roff a bit I have discovered an interetsing anomaly between the program under PC minix and ST minix. The syntax for roff is "roff <filename>" This works perfectly on the PC, but on the ST fails to produce any output. I have to use "roff < <filename>" to persuade it to work at all. I have looked at the source and the parts to handle the files are identical in both the PC and the ST versions. The fopen call in the ST version is working correctly since if I type "roff non-existant-file" it identifies the fact and gives me an error. Does anyone know the reason for this and why the program works on the PC but not the ST ? Thanks. -Pete French. PCF1@vaxa.york.ac.uk || pete@kyns.bt.co.uk
alex@hpqtdla.HP.COM (Alex Ballantyne) (06/01/89)
I use roff for text processing on the Atari because I use nroff and troff at work, so roff was easy to learn. With a bit of care, it's possible to write compatible commands that allow me to print large documents on machines with nroff/troff and fast printers. The other advantage is that I can carry on working while printing. My printer is a converted typewriter which gives sparkling print......at about 2 characters per second. I've noticed the problem you mention, though I don't know why it happens. I think similar strange behavior occurs when roff is used in scripts. I have difficulty with the macro function too, but I haven't really investigated very far. Maybe expanding/improving roff is the excuse I need to get on with learning to program in C. Alex.