Dear gang,

The appears to be something wrong with the sidebar and marginrule mechanisms. MWE:

==============
% ConTeXt  ver: 2023.09.26 18:19 LMTX

\setupmarginrule[1][rulecolor=darkred]

\definesidebar[Sidebar][rulethickness=0.28pt,distance=3pt,rulecolor=darkgreen]
\setupsidebar[rulecolor=darkgreen]

\starttext
\startmarginrule[1]
\input ward
\stopmarginrule

\blank

\startsidebar[Sidebar]
\input zapf
\stopsidebar
\stoptext
==============

In the output, either

i)  the rules do not appear at all (most attempts); or
ii) the rules appear for a split-second then disappear (using sumatrapdf as the viewer, so the pdf updates on the fly).

Is is a bug?

A second question: Is either mechanism preferable over the other? That is: In LMTX, what is the best mechanism to use?

Thank you in advance for any guidance.

Best wishes
--
Idris Samawi Hamid, Professor
Department of Philosophy
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523