Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!rice!sun-spots-request
From: slcpi!fgreco@uunet.uu.net (Frank Greco)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.sun
Subject: tbl/ptroff/ms
Keywords: Software
Message-ID: <9423@brazos.Rice.edu>
Date: 27 Jun 90 21:54:51 GMT
Sender: root@rice.edu
Organization: Sun-Spots
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Approved: Sun-Spots@rice.edu
X-Sun-Spots-Digest: Volume 9, Issue 244, message 12

Troff-ers,

I'm having a bit of a problem in creating multi-page reports in
(p)troff/ms/tbl in landscape mode.  I have a program that creates a
tbl/troff file.  The size of the table is unknown ahead of time (we're
extracting stuff out of a database).

1. The Sun docs are rather obtuse in the troff area.  I've found the .TS H
   and .TH/.TE macro(s) in the manuals.  Could someone please explain the use
   of these macros a *little* better than the Sun docs?  I've tried several
   combinations and I'm not having any luck.

2. How does one landscape-ize (11 X 8.5) a troff document?  When I attempt
   to change .pl, troff does not know how to correctly pagebreak.  It
   attempts to print two separate pages on one sheet of paper.  When I
   attempt to change .LL (via .nr LL <something>), troff complains that "PO +
   LL exceeds 7.54 inches".  Gees, I want it to exceed 7.54 inches!  I want
   it landscape!

Thanks all,
Frank G.

[please respond via email... thanks]
[...and I *do* know that TeX exists ;-)...]

The environment:
        Sun3's and SPARCStations
        SunOS 4.0.3
        transcript
        LaserWriter

Frank D. Greco - Consultant