Re: [Groff] nop request

[Ted Harding]

On 04-Sep-00 Werner LEMBERG wrote:
> 
>> So, while I can see the point of Werner's proposal, I think it would
>> be a very good idea to call it something else. Maybe ".pad"? I don't
>> have a clearly good suggestion for the name.
> 
> What about `.nor' (no-operation request)?  Or just using a symbol,
> e.g. `.!' or `."'?

I'd sooner go for a real "name" (e.g. "nor") rather than a symbol.

Don't forget that strings, macros and diversions share name space,
and one way or another most "symbols" are either already or potentially
used (e.g. \*" or \*: for an umlaut; I use \*! for an under-dot accent
[keeping \*. for an over-dot], \*~ for tilde, etc.). So, e.g.,

  .     ! Hallo

would evoke the under-dot code in my case ...

That being said, I can't see a specific objection to Werner's
suggestion of "nor".

Ted.






> 
>> Finally, I think the interpretation as 'equivalent to ".if 1"' is not
>> obvious: does it mean you can use
>> 
>>   .nop \{Some input
>>   and some more input
>>   .\}
>>
>> If not, then is it not equivalent to
>> 
>>   .de nop
>>   \\$*
>>   ..
> 
> It doesn't matter at all.  The coding in troff makes only a difference
> for `.if 0', i.e. for code to be skipped.  `\{' and `\}' are
> completely ignored otherwise.  Cf. skip_alternative() and
> begin_alternative() in src/roff/troff/input.cc.
> 
> 
>     Werner
> _______________________________________________
> Groff maillist  -  address@hidden
> http://ffii.org/mailman/listinfo/groff

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Date: 05-Sep-00                                       Time: 10:18:03
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