Re: [9fans] Troff macro package for patents

Re: [9fans] Troff macro package for patents

[dmr]

   It is known that (t)roff has been used to format patent applications,
   but I wonder: Are there any
   macros available for that specific task? All patents look the same, so
   I figure that macros or
   some kind of template would be great.

   / G.A.

The patent typing time well antedated even nroff, and I don't
remember what primitive macros were used.  The main thing Ossanna
did was to add two built-ins, .jo1 and .jo2; the first would produce line
numbering as needed in the description part
(number each successive line as on the page), while
the second would start restart the numbering at each new
claim.

Could have been done with macros later.

  Dennis

Re: [9fans] Troff macro package for patents

[gas]

--- dmr@plan9.bell-labs.com skrev:

> The patent typing time well antedated even nroff, and I don't
> remember what primitive macros were used.  The main thing Ossanna
> did was to add two built-ins, .jo1 and .jo2; the first would produce
> line
> numbering as needed in the description part
> (number each successive line as on the page), while
> the second would start restart the numbering at each new
> claim.
> 
> Could have been done with macros later.
> 
>   Dennis
> 

OK. They seem to have been decrufted from the source; nothing turns
up with "grep jo" anyway. Better leave it to the archaeologists, I
suppose.

Thanks!

/ Greger


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Re: [9fans] Troff macro package for patents

[Russ Cox]

> OK. They seem to have been decrufted from the source; nothing turns
> up with "grep jo" anyway. Better leave it to the archaeologists, I
> suppose.

I think Dennis was talking about an earlier program, not troff.
Troff does do line numbering in that style, using .nm and .nn.
>From the troff manual /sys/doc/troff.ps

15.  Output Line Numbering.

         Automatic sequence numbering of output lines may be
    requested  with nm.  When in effect, a three-digit, ara-
  3 bic number plus a digit-space is prefixed to output text
    lines.   The  text  lines are thus offset by four digit-
    spaces, and otherwise retain their line length; a reduc-
  6 tion  in  line  length  may be desired to keep the right
    margin aligned with an  earlier  margin.   Blank  lines,
    other vertical spaces, and lines generated by tl are not
  9 numbered.  Numbering can be temporarily  suspended  with
    nn, or with an .nm followed by a later .nm +0.  In addi-
    tion, a line number indent I, and the number-text  sepa-
 12 ration  S may be specified in digit-spaces.  Further, it
    can be specified that only those line numbers  that  are
    multiples of some number M are to be printed (the others
 15 will appear as blank number fields).

.nm ±N M S I             off       E

        Line number mode.  If ±N is given, line numbering is
        turned  on,  and  the  next  output line numbered is
        numbered ±N.  Default values are M=1, S=1, and  I=0.
        Parameters  corresponding  to  missing arguments are
        unaffected; a  non-numeric  argument  is  considered
        missing.  In the absence of all arguments, numbering
        is turned off; the next line number is preserved for
        possible further use in number register ln.

.nn N          -         N=1       E

        The next N text output lines are not numbered.

         As an example, the paragraph portions of this  sec-
    tion  are  numbered  with M=3: .nm 1 3 was placed at the
 18 beginning; .nm was placed at the end of the first  para-
    graph; and .nm +0 was placed in front of this paragraph;
    and .nm finally placed at the end.   Line  lengths  were
 21 also  changed  (by  \w'0000'u)  to  keep  the right side
    aligned.  Another example is .nm +5 5 x 3,  which  turns
    on numbering with the line number of the next line to be
 24 5 greater than the last numbered line,  with  M=5,  with
    spacing S untouched, and with the indent I set to 3.

Russ

Re: [9fans] Troff macro package for patents

[dmr]

   I think Dennis was talking about an earlier program, not troff.
   Troff does do line numbering in that style, using .nm and .nn.

I should have been clearer.  The program was just roff,
as mentioned in the 1st edition manual.  I don't have
(and don't actually remember) the "separate reference" for
roff the man page promises.

 Dennis