Xref: utzoo alt.text.dwb:27 comp.text:8409
Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uwm.edu!linac!att!att!cbnewsl!npn
From: npn@cbnewsl.att.com (nils-peter.nelson)
Newsgroups: alt.text.dwb,comp.text
Subject: Re: problems with "ms" macros
Summary: trick for column and page breaks.
Message-ID: <1991May14.132028.20635@cbnewsl.att.com>
Date: 14 May 91 13:20:28 GMT
References: <dennis.674182199@syzygy>
Followup-To: comp.text
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 23



Question was how to force break to next column.
Here is an old trick (from roff):
text
text
text
.br
.ne 60
.br
.ne 0
text for start of next column or page.

The ".ne 60" says "there must be at least 60 lines left
in this {column|page} for you to start new text here."
This will never be true (unless you redefine page length)
and so forces a {column|page} break. The ".ne 0" takes
effect at the top of {column|page} and says "I changed
my mind-- put out whatever you have."
If you find this ungainly, put it in a macro called ".BC".

As for .TC, it's not part of the original -ms,
so I can't speak for it.