Dear Wolfgang,

Thank you very much.  This is very helpful.

One note is that to center the footer required

\setupletterframe[foot][align=middle]

(NOT \setupletterlayer.  Per http://wiki.contextgarden.net/Letter#Setup)


A couple more questions.
(1) is there a more efficient way to indent only the content of the letter:

\setupindenting[yes,small]
\setuplettersection[opening][indenting=no]
\setuplettersection[subject][indenting=no]
\setuplettersection[closing][indenting=no]
\setuplettersection[signature][indenting=no]


(2) The following did not properly left-justify the date (the date was
towards the left but was not perfectly aligned with the other
left-justified text):
\setupletterlayer[reference][alternative=e]

Thank you again.

Best,
Michael



On Wed, Jul 17, 2013 at 4:08 PM, Wolfgang Schuster <
schuster.wolfgang@gmail.com> wrote:

>
> Am 15.07.2013 um 18:34 schrieb Michael Ash <mash@econs.umass.edu>:
>
> Dear all,
>
> (This is a repeat post. I apologize if that's rude, but I would appreciate
> some assistance with the letter module or a pointer to documentation.
> Thanks.)
>
>
> I am using the letter module that came with context.   A sample of a basic
> letter is below; I have put in "dummy" for the logo and the signature, but
> these are working fine when I include the files.
>
> I have several questions:
>
>    1. to center the footer.
>
> You can use the align key but you have to use a valid value, e.g. middle.
>
> \setupletterlayer[foot][align=middle]
>
>
>    1. 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=10pt]
>
>
>    1. 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=]
>
>
>    1. 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=4cm]
>
>
>    1. to left-justify the date.
>
> When you want only the date in the reference line without the label use
> alternative “e” (you don’t even have to clear the label because it isn’t
> used).
>
> \setupletterlayer[reference][alternative=e]
>
> \setupletter[reference=\currentdate]
>
>
>    1. to control the foldmarks (for US-letter-size paper, omit, etc.)
>
> You can disable the marks with \setupletteroptions[marking=no], the
> position can be changed with \setupletterlayer[topmark][y=7cm]
> and \setupletterlayer[topmark][y=14cm].
>
> I have consulted http://wiki.contextgarden.net/Letter but there are many
> things I don't understand.   What is the meaning  of "alternative=example";
>
>
> 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="  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=\textwidth,height=\textheight]
>
> \starttext
>
> \setlayer[test][corner={left,top},location={right,bottom}]{LT 1}
>
> \setlayer[test][corner={right,top},location={left,bottom}]{RT 1}
>
> \setlayer[test][corner={left,bottom},location={right,top}]{LB 1}
>
> \setlayer[test][corner={right,bottom},location={left,top}]{RB 1}
>
> \flushlayer[test]
>
> \setlayer[test][preset=lefttop]{LT 2}
>
> \setlayer[test][preset=righttop]{RT 2}
>
> \setlayer[test][preset=leftbottom]{LB 2}
>
> \setlayer[test][preset=rightbottom]{RB 2}
>
> \flushlayer[test]
>
> \stoptext
>
>
> 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=blue,style=sans].
>
> Wolfgang
>
>


-- 
Michael Ash, Chair, Department of Economics
Professor of Economics and Public Policy
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, MA 01003
Email mash@econs.umass.edu
Tel +1-413-545-2590 Twitter https://twitter.com/michaelaoash