Re: [Groff] question about .rs and .nop

[Peter Schaffter]

On Sat, Aug 24, 2013, Ulrich Lauther wrote:
> The groff manual says:
> 
> .rs       Restore spacing; turn no-space mode off.
> 
> However,
>   .rs
>   .sp 3
> does not work; one has to output some text first, to get .sp to work.
> 
> Is this a bug in groff, or in its documentation?

I wonder about that, too.  The info manual says very clearly

  "This mode [.ns] ends when actual text is output or the `rs'
  request is encountered..."

Logically, therefore, .rs/.sp 3 should restore spacing and advance
3v.  

> About the .nop request:
> 
> .nop anything
>                  Always process anything.
> 
> What is this request good for?

It's good for things like

  .rs
  .nop \&
  .sp 3

which is offers a solution to the .rs/.sp problem when you don't
want "actual text" to be output before the sp request.

-- 
Peter Schaffter
http://www.schaffter.ca