%-*-tex-*- \ifundefined{writestatus} \input status \relax \fi % \chcode{mulcol} \def\cqu{} \chapterhead{mulcol}{MULTICOLUMN\cr FORMAT} \intex\ supplies a reasonably versatile multicolumn format mechanism. The rest of this chapter is set in the multicolumn format with two columns it was called using \begintt \beginmulticolumnformat \tolerance = 1000 \intercolumnsep = {\quad \vrule\quad} \numberofcolumns = 2 \endtt \beginmulticolumnformat \tolerance = 1000 \intercolumnsep = {\quad \vrule\quad} \numberofcolumns = 2 \shead{mulcolcomlist}{Command List} \begingroup \obeylines \ext|\balancecolumnsize| \ext|\beginmulticolumnformat| \ext|\endmulticolumnformat| \ext|\ejectcolumn| \ext|\ejectpage| \ext|\firstcolumnoffset| \ext|\intercolumnsep| \ext|\numberofcolumns| \endgroup \shead{mulcolform}{Multicolumn Usage} Multicolumn format is begun using \begintt \beginmulticolumnformat. \endtt and is terminated with an \begintt \endmulticolumnformat. \endtt Narrow columns in multicolumn format can make it difficult to produce nice looking lines. This is why the |\tolerance| was increased above while in this two column mode. When the number of columns is specified, above it was 2, the {\bf current} space taken by the intercolumn separator and the first column offset is used to compute the size of the columns. This hopefully will not be of negative width. From this point all input will be put in multicolumn format. Footnotes, inserts, and the like that occur while multicolumn format is in force will migrate to the appropriate places in the column.\footnote{\dagger}{This footnote migrated down to the bottom of this page} Figures, tables will all behave as if the column were a page. Footnotes and inserts that occur before or after multicolumn format will be placed in the appropriate place but with respect to the entire page rather than the individual column. A column is completed using an |\ejectcolumn| while an |\ejectpage| will complete all the columns on the page. \intex\ does not produce balanced columns automatically. However, there is a way of hand balancing. When the multicolumn format is ended, \intex\ computes an estimate of the column length that is needed to produce balanced columns on the last page. If this amount is entered by using |\balancecolumnsize [=] | command somewhere on the page {\bf preceding} the last page, the next time the file is processed, \intex\ will use || as the vertical size of the columns on the last page. It may take a few trials to determine the correct value for the ||. In this instance \begintt \balancecolumnsize=165pt \endtt was inserted here. \balancecolumnsize=165pt \shead{mulcolcomform}{Command Forms} \beginblockmode \ext\@|\balancecolumnsize [=] | \nbr This command, when inserted somewhere on the second to last page or before the multicolumnformat starts if it takes less than a page, will produce columns with vertical size ||. \mbr \ext\@|\beginmulticolumnformat| \nbr This begins multicolumn format and a group. \mbr \ext\@|\endmulticolumnformat| \nbr This ends multicolumn format and terminates the group. \mbr \ext\@|\ejectcolumn| \nbr This ends and vertical fills a {\bf column}. When not in multicolumn format, it will act as an |\ejectpage|. \mbr \ext\@|\ejectpage| \nbr This command ends and fills the current column. It then terminates the entire page, leaving blank columns as necessary. \mbr \ext\@|\firstcolumnoffset [=] | \nbr This command reduces the horizontal size by amount of 2||. The reduction will show up evenly on both side of the page. The \intex\ default is 0pt. \mbr \ext\@|\intercolumnsep [=] {}| \nbr The || is inserted between every column. The vertical lines in this chapter are a result of the |\vrule| when the multicolumn format was first called. \intex\ defaults to a pure spacing of 2em. \mbr \ext\@|\numberofcolumns [=] | \nbr This sets the number of columns and computes the horizontal size of the column. The various offsets should be set before this is called. This command should be called before any || is submitted to the multicolumn page. \endblockmode \endmulticolumnformat \ejectpage \done