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From: wurtz@sgi400.msd.lmsc.lockheed.com (Jeff Wurtz)
Newsgroups: comp.text.tex
Subject: TeXbook question Appendix E getaddress macro
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Date: 17 May 91 23:06:28 GMT
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I need someone's help to understand the \getaddress macro in Appendix E,
page 407 of the TeXbook.  Anything you can tell me to assist my understanding
will be greatly appreciated.  I have the following specific questions:
1) What is parameter #1 used for?  My guess is that it is used only to "get
   to the end of line", but if that is so, then why is it used in the
   replacement text?  As best as I can determine, parameter #1 is blank!
2) In the line defining \getaddress, is the \obeylines included only for
   purposes of the macro definition or is it used "outside" of the macro?
3) When \getaddress is used (by \address), only one line (Prof.~Brian~K. Reid)
   goes into parameter #2.  How does \getaddress read paremeter #2?  Does it
   use a <CR> as a delimiter?  Does it use "end of paragraph" as a delimiter?
   What determines the end of the argument for parameter #2?
4) How do the three address lines get into box \theaddress?

Macro \getaddress appears (to me) to be a sophisticated way of specifying
arguments for a macro.  I really want to understand how it works.  The amount
of explanation for this macro in the TeXbook seems woefully inadequate.

Thanks for your help.