\setupletterlayer[foot][align=3Dmiddle]

to lower the footer (closer to the bottom of the = page)

You can control the = distance between the margins and the footer block with the x and y keys = for = \setupletterlayer.

\setupletterlayer[foot][y=3D10= pt]

to delete the word "Date" above the = date.

There is no key for = \setupletterstyle etc. to disable/enable the label but you can clear the = label = text.

\setuplettertext[en][date=3D]

to put the date above the recipient address (and how in = general do I adjust the vertical space = here).

Move the layer up with the = \setupletterlayer = command.

\setupletterlayer[reference][y=3D4cm]

to left-justify the = date.

When you want only the date = in the reference line without the label use alternative =93e=94 (you = don=92t even have to clear the label because it isn=92t = used).

\setupletterlayer[reference][alternative=3D= e]

\setupletter[reference=3D\currentdate]

to control the foldmarks (for US-letter-size paper, = omit, etc.)

You can disable the = marks with \setupletteroptions[marking=3Dno], the position can be = changed with \setupletterlayer[topmark][y=3D7cm] = and \setupletterlayer[topmark][y=3D14cm].

I have consulted http://wiki.contextgarden.net/Letter but = there are many things I don't understand. What is the meaning = of = "alternative=3Dexample";

With = the alternative key you select one of the predefined or used defined = styles for the reference, footer etc. blocks.

what is the option = "preset=3D" in \setuplayer[foot] ?

When you want to = change the origin for a layer from the top left margin to the bottom = left you have to change the value of the location and corner keys. As = there are few often used combination for the four corners Hans = predefined the with the \definelayerpreset command. These predefined = setups can be loaded with the preset key which saves some typing. Below = is a short example where I set first the arguments myself and later use = the predefined = setups.

\definelayer[test][width=3D\textwidt= h,height=3D\textheight]

\starttext

\setlayer[test][corner=3D{left,top},location=3D{right,bottom}]{= LT = 1}

\setlayer[test][corner=3D{right,top},location=3D= {left,bottom}]{RT = 1}

\setlayer[test][corner=3D{left,bottom},locatio= n=3D{right,top}]{LB = 1}

\setlayer[test][corner=3D{right,bottom},locati= on=3D{left,top}]{RB = 1}

\flushlayer[test]

\se= tlayer[test][preset=3Dlefttop]{LT = 2}

\setlayer[test][preset=3Drighttop]{RT = 2}

\setlayer[test][preset=3Dleftbottom]{LB = 2}

\setlayer[test][preset=3Drightbottom]{RB = 2}

\flushlayer[test]

\st= optext

Also is there a better way to manage color? = I \definecolor, \startcolor, \stopcolor, but maybe there is a = better way to indicate that certain sections of the letter should be in = a color. Thanks.

All block elements provide color and = style keys which can be used to set the font and color for them, e.g. = \setupletterlayer[foot][color=3Dblue,style=3Dsans].

Wolfgang