Hans Hagen writes:
 > Siep Kroonenberg wrote:
 > 
 > > - Does Context provide for styles as in Word: a set of typographic
 > > specifications (font, leading, h&j, space before and after) separate
 > > from any sectioning hierarchy, or is it necessary to write those from
 > > scratch as macros?
 > 
 > Most commands have some before/after (voor/na) hooks. These are normally
 > used for spacing: voor={\blanko[groot]}, but you can use them for other
 > things too. Font switches normally take place with the style (letter)
 > parameter. In some occasions there is 'afstand', 'korps', 'binnen',
 > 'links', 'rechts', etc. 

So what would be a natural choice as a basis for defining Word styles
(as an environment)? I need to define several variations on ordinary
text, not some kind of sectioning command. Can you give me a
template, or should I do something like start/stopWhatever from
s-map-01.tex?

 >  
 > > - Is the following syntax safe:
 > > 
 > > %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
 > >   \some_context_macro
 > > % comment
 > >     [parameter]
 > 
 > Yes. Try for instance 
 > 
 > \setuphead
 >   % comment 
 >   [chapter]
 >   % comment 
 >   [style=bold]
 > 
 > TeX ignores spaces atthe beginningof the line, so the comment becomes
 > one space, and the context argument handler takes care of such
spaces.   

Glad to learn this. Some non-reproducible mysterious behaviour must
probably be ascribed to other causes.

 > > %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
 > > 
 > > - I am trying to define typography for a header:
 > > 
 > > \setuphead[subject]
 > >   [before=\blank,
 > >    after=\blank[small],
 > >    style={\switchtobodyfont[sans,16pt]\bf}]
 > 
 > Use switched around {\blank[small]}. Unfortunately TeX's normal argument
 > handling capabilities are not able to handle nested things (in this case
 > nested []). Technically, everything between a pair of [] is picked up,
 > and in your case 
 > the after small ends the parameter list.  

This turns out to work in one example but not in another; attached the
one where it doesn't work.

 > > If I try C-style indentation:
 > > 
 > > \setuphead[subject]
 > >   [before=\blank,
 > >    after=\blank[small],
 > >    style={\switchtobodyfont[sans,16pt]\bf
 > >    }
 > >   ]
 > 
 > Spaces after the first [ and after commas are gobbled, but everything
 > between = and the next , or final ] makes up the value. 

A `%' after `}' fixes it, too. Sanity restored.

 > Some bonus tips:
 > 
 >   \definealternativestyle [siep] [{\switchtobodyfont[sans,16pt]\bf}] []
 > 
 >   \defineblank [alsosiep] [2*big]
 > 
 >   \setuphead[chapter][style=siep,before={\blank[alsosiep]}]
 > 
 > Especially the logical blank's can enforce consistency. 
 > 
 > Hans

Ah! More indirection! But I see where I would want to use this.

Siep

-- 
Siep Kroonenberg, TeX helpdesk
Siep.Kroonenberg@wkap.nl

Kluwer Academic Publishers
Prepress Department
Achterom 119
3311 KB Dordrecht
The Netherlands