Re: [Groff] -ms paragraph macros don't reset glyph- and fill-col

[Dorai Sitaram]

Yes, I agree.  I wouldn't argue against the global (or "from here on out") kind 
of switch.  However, a local switch that lasts only until the end of the 
current graf helps one use .am to easily modify address@hidden and 
address@hidden to use a special colour just for header text.  Without this 
local switch, while it can still be done with a bit of tedious macrology, it is 
rather unlike the -ms way.




________________________________
From: "address@hidden" <address@hidden>
To: Dorai Sitaram <address@hidden>
Cc: address@hidden
Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2008 4:13:43 PM
Subject: RE: [Groff] -ms paragraph macros don't reset glyph- and fill-col

On 20-Nov-08 22:19:39, Dorai Sitaram wrote:
> I notice that groff's .PP, .LP and the like don't restore the glyph-
> and fill-color to the default (black and white)._ Shouldn't they, in
> analogy to how they treat font- and size-switches?
> _
> --d

That's a moot point! If one uses colour for transient purposes
(e.g. to highlight a few words, or a single paragraph) then one
would prefer that a .LP would restore the default. On the other
hand, if one uses colour for extended passages, then it is more
convenient to have the colour carry through.

Likewise, regarding font- and size-switches, one can set global
changes in ms macros by

.fam BM \"for Bookman
.ps 15
.nr PS 15 \"to change the default font to 15 points

However, I would agree that for consistency of logic in ms macros,
changes in colour would be local to the paragraph and revert to
the default at a new paragrpah; and there would be a register
(analogous to \n[PS]) to make a global change.

That being said, I personally prefer to cancel colour explcitly
when I have done with it, whether that is after a few words,
at the end of a paragraph, or after an extended passage.

One one is used to it, it is very little trouble to do.

Best wishes,
Ted.

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Date: 21-Nov-08                                      Time: 00:13:40
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