Re: difference between TeX behavior and ConTeXt

[Lars Huttar <lars_huttar@sil.org>]

On 11/27/2008 3:57 AM, Taco Hoekwater wrote:
> 
> Lars Huttar wrote:
>> something like this:
>>
>> 	switch to a serif style
>>
>> (if that's what \rm means in ConTeXt -- I still don't know for sure).
> 
> \rm in ConTeXT means: switch to the internal style group named "rm"
> (and likewise for \ss -> "ss" etc.)
> 
> Whether "rm" points to a group of fonts that actually have serifs
> attached to the glyph shapes depends totally on the specific typescript
> that is being used in the document (usually they will, and I think all
> the predefined typescripts are set up that way, but that is not a
> requirement at all).
> 
> The basic idea is that the style "rm" switches to the font set used
> for the main portion of the text. "ss" is the style for supporting
> texts, like section heads and headers/footers. "tt" is useful for
> fixed-width text, (this gets it own special group because it is very
> often needed in manuals). "hw", and "cg" are variations for different
> forms of supporting texts, these are rarely used.
> 
> Does it make more sense now?
> 

Thank you, that helps a lot. I understand now that \rm is more abstract
than I'd initially thought... more powerful but also harder to predict.
Nevertheless useful generalizations can be made (as you showed) that are
helpful in learning the system.

I think it would be worthwhile to explain that in the manual you are
writing (if it doesn't already... sorry, I'm on a tight deadline now and
can't recheck!)... that the style "rm" switches to the font set used for
the main portion of the text, which typically is a serif font. I think
it would also be helpful to note that this switch does not (normally?)
affect italicization, because some TeX-world users will be coming in
with wrong expectations regarding "rm" and italics.

Best wishes,
Lars
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