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╩C H A P T E R S E V E NΩ
╩7 The FORMAT UtilityΩ
╩FormatΩ :╔FORMAT <selectors> <src file>Θ
The FORMAT program takes the given source file and formats
it according to the given selector. FORMAT is a very
powerful program which can be used to produce high quality
documents.
FORMAT makes use of imbedded commands. These commands are
double letter words prefixed by a dot ("."). They tell the
program to perform certain operations on the following
text.
The invocation selectors accepted are:-
&A - Source file is true ASCII, causes FORMAT to read it
as such.
&W - Use WYSIWYG output. Simulate printer typefaces on
screen.
&P - Activate printer output
&v - Deactivate VDU output.
&L<file.path> - Load PCC Data File (See later).
╩7.1 FORMAT Dot CommandsΩ
╩SyntaxΩ :.ch "<Heading>" <chapter number> {FF -}
FORMAT will automatically underline and centre chapter
headings when it finds them. It will also make a note of
the page number and produce a contents table at the end of
the text. In order for these operations to be carried out
correctly, FORMAT must be told when a chapter heading
occurs.
The chapter number should be given after the heading.
Remember that the double quote character (") is not
displayed as such by EDTEXT or any other program. FORMAT
will, however, honour the converted character.
If the word "FF" is appended to the line instead of the
"-", FORMAT will cause a Form Feed to be output before the
chapter heading.
Setting the chapter number will cause subsequent section
numbers to be correctly numbered. FORMAT will
automatically insert the PCCs to cause the heading to
appear underlined.
The .ch command does not automatically isolate the chapter
heading. If you wish a gap around the heading when not
using the "FF" option, then you must make the gap in the
source text eg;
╔<....some...text...>Θ
╔.ch etc.Θ
╔<....more...text...>Θ
╩SyntaxΩ :.{ <paragraph>
Indicates the start of a paragraph. Text within a
paragraph is affected by the current format settings. Text
outside is left largely unaltered. the { command also
causes indentation, if a value has been specified with the
.pi command.
╩SyntaxΩ :<paragraph> .}
Indicates the end of a paragraph. Text after this command
will not be altered except to fit the current margin
settings.
╩SyntaxΩ :.nl
Format stores each word in a buffer which it prints when
the buffer becomes full. This command causes the contents
of the buffer to be output followed by a carriage return
and line feed.
╩SyntaxΩ :.el
Causes the contents of the buffer to be output followed by
a carriage return and line feed. If the buffer is empty
then no action is taken.
╩SyntaxΩ :.pm {SKIP WAIT IGNORE}
Sets the paging mode. When FORMAT reaches the end of a
sheet of paper it has a choice of ignoring the fact,
skipping over the perforations or waiting for the user to
sort things out. The .pm command allows the user to set
the required option.
╩SyntaxΩ :.pn <page.number> {- TOP BOTTOM}
Sets the value for the next page number and the position
it is to be printed at. The dash indicates that no page
numbers are required from now on. Page numbers are
displayed in the form:-
╔< <number> >Θ eg; ╔< 5 >Θ
The number is also isolated by blank lines both above and
below. These blank lines have the affect of forcing a
"half skip" when the perforation setting is IGNORE.
╩SyntaxΩ :.sh <depth> "<heading>"
This command is provided for the same reason as the .ch
command. It operates in a similar way except that a
section depth value must be specified. For a first section
this value is 1 ie;
╔1.1 First SectionΘ
For a subsection the value is two ie;
╔1.1.1 SubsectionΘ
Note that, like .ch, you must isolate section headings in
the source text if you want them to be isolated in the
final document.
╩SyntaxΩ :.fl <length>
Allows the user to tell FORMAT of the current number of
lines╙╔Printable on a╙single sheetΘ note that this value
is ╩notΩ the ╙form-length. FORMAT will decide╙ the true
form-length by calculating the number of lines "lost" to
page numbers and perforation gaps.
╩SyntaxΩ :.ls <value>
Sets the number of times the printer moves down after
printing a line of text. A line spacing of two is
recommended if the document is to be submitted for
critical appraisal as it allows comments to be written
between the lines.
╩SyntaxΩ :.ct "<text>"
Centres the given text within the current margin settings.
╩SyntaxΩ :.rt "<text>"
Prints the given text against the right edge of the paper.
╩SyntaxΩ:.nc
Disables output of contents list.
╩SyntaxΩ :.lm [+]<value>
Allows the user to adjust the current setting for the left
margin. The "+" option allows the user to specify a
relative offset-positive or negative.
╩SyntaxΩ :.rm [+]<value>
Allows the user to adjust the right margin. See above for
details.
╩SyntaxΩ :.ju {ON OFF}
Controls automatic text justification. The ON and OFF
options are fairly self explanatory. Remember that text
outside a paragraph is not justified anyway.
╩SyntaxΩ :.ff
Instructs FORMAT to terminate the current page and skip
forward to the start of the next sheet. The page numbers
will, of course, still be printed correctly.
╩SyntaxΩ :.fw [+]<value>
Allows the user to set the width of paper between the two
margins. FORMAT will automatically centre the page of
text. The "+" option allows the user to specify a relative
size change.
╩SyntaxΩ :.da "{<date expression> -}"
Causes FORMAT to evaluate the date expression-if given-and
to insert the literal result into the text. The resulting
text will still be justified if applicable.
If `-' is given then the current date will be inserted
into the text, eg; .da "-"
╩SyntaxΩ :.ti
Causes FORMAT to insert the current time into the text
which will still be justified if applicable.
╩SyntaxΩ :.ip "<prompt message>"
Instructs FORMAT to fetch a section of text from the
user-in response to the prompt-and incorporate the result
into the text. As with .da and .ti the result will be
justified if applicable.
╩SyntaxΩ :.in "<file path>" [FF]
Instructs FORMAT to break off reading the current source
file. FORMAT will then attempt to read the contents of the
given file. The given file can, itself, contain further
.ip commands, but such nesting is only allowed up to a
maximum of ten suspended files.
Provided no more than ten files are suspended at any one
time, there is no limit to the number of .ip commands you
can use. When the end of a file is reached, FORMAT will
return to the last suspended file at a point after the .ip
command.
The "FF" directive instructs FORMAT to issue a form feed
before continuing printing.
╩SyntaxΩ :.vc {START STOP}
Instructs FORMAT to buffer the text in between the START
and STOP options. When the buffer is full (or when the
STOP option is invoked) the text will be vertically
centred.
╩SyntaxΩ :.pi <value>
Allows the user to set the number of spaces used to indent
a paragraph when the .{ command is invoked.
╩SyntaxΩ :.go
This command MUST be used to start text output.
╩SyntaxΩ :.pr <list<PCC code>>
Outputs the given list of PCC codes. The list can be
terminated by any none valid PCC or by the end of a line.
This option should be used to send codes to the printer to
initialise it before printing starts.
╩7.2 Default SettingsΩ
Format initialises to a standard document printing status.
This status can be used to print any report or large
document. It is recommended, however, that users set up
ALL initial conditions themselves.
PAGE LENGTH : A4 / 70
PAGE WIDTH : 60
PERFORATION MODE : SKIP
PAGE NUMBERS : TOP (1+)
╩7.3 PCC Data FilesΩ
These define the specific values to be sent to the printer
when each PCC is encountered. The default setting is for
NULL codes, ie; no codes are sent. These default values
will produce DRAFT output.
The code should be given in the following pattern:-
<list
<Letter>
<list
<numeric values>
>
>
-
An example could be:-
K
27
45
1
-
Which would set up the underline ON option for EPSON
printers.╒
$ ╩C H A P T E R S E V E NΩ
╩7 The FORMAT UtilityΩ
╩FormatΩ :╔FORMAT <selectors> <src file>Θ
The F