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The C Users' Group Library 1994 August
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ROFF4, version 1.60
by
Ernest E. Bergmann
Physics, Bldg #16
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, Pa. 18015
(215-) 861-3932
ROFF4, v1.60 is being provided essentially in the
public domain, not because it isn't good, but to provide a
means to create and transport technical documentation
between users with different hardware. This is not
possible with commercial formatters because they are often
not powerful enough to handle special symbols, equations,
and the like. Equally importantly, there is not much
standardization and commercial formatters cannot be "given
away"; the sender and receiver are not as likely to own
the same commercial formatters.
I am a practicing scientist and I need to format
manuscripts which are sometimes long, contain equations,
special symbols, footnotes, and illustrations. I needed a
formatter that was easy to use, flexible, and available to
others. It takes me less time to type a manuscript for
this formatter and rework it, including special characters,
than to have it typed and retyped by a typist only to have
me proof read it ad nauseum.
ROFF4 is table driven; it is relatively easy to
configure for different output devices. I have used it
with the MX-80 and Graftrax printer combination; It is
able to create special symbols where needed. I Also can
get special symbols on my CRT screen because of my computer
hardware (the Exidy Sorcerer has user definable
characters). However, the characteristics of my CRT device
and of my printer are very different. My design philosophy
was to be able to drive either from the same input files so
that I could "preview" my output before going to hardcopy.
You may have a variety of output devices; use your
imagination.
Your comments, criticisms, and possible bug reports
will be most useful.
I hope to extend ROFF4 so that it will be able to
better utilize specialty printers (it presently assumes
that the printer does NOT know how to backspace, nor
reverse scroll). I will have to learn how to support
printers that do proportional spacing and variable pitch.
I would also like to write a translater that
automatically converts WORDSTAR(tm MicroPro) files,
including control-P and dot commands into input files for
ROFF4. ROFF4 ignores the parity bit on input files. It
may get confused by inputting control-codes (it should only
get the <CR><LF> and <TAB> of standard CP/M text files).
March 10, 1984
Ernest E. Bergmann