diff options
author | Karl Berry <karl@freefriends.org> | 2006-01-09 00:44:40 +0000 |
---|---|---|
committer | Karl Berry <karl@freefriends.org> | 2006-01-09 00:44:40 +0000 |
commit | b4fc5f639874db951177ec539299d20908adb654 (patch) | |
tree | 52f08823ca58fffe3db6a9b075635038c567626c /Master/texmf-dist/doc/latex/formlett | |
parent | dec3d98ebe442d7ea93efbaa8dd2e2be8149a467 (diff) |
doc 4
git-svn-id: svn://tug.org/texlive/trunk@80 c570f23f-e606-0410-a88d-b1316a301751
Diffstat (limited to 'Master/texmf-dist/doc/latex/formlett')
-rw-r--r-- | Master/texmf-dist/doc/latex/formlett/prog_manual.tex | 1906 | ||||
-rw-r--r-- | Master/texmf-dist/doc/latex/formlett/user_manual.tex | 1113 |
2 files changed, 3019 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/Master/texmf-dist/doc/latex/formlett/prog_manual.tex b/Master/texmf-dist/doc/latex/formlett/prog_manual.tex new file mode 100644 index 00000000000..3cf57fc993f --- /dev/null +++ b/Master/texmf-dist/doc/latex/formlett/prog_manual.tex @@ -0,0 +1,1906 @@ +% PROGRAMMER'S MANUAL in Plain TeX + +\input formlett.sty + +% FONTS +\font\hbold=cmbx10 at 17.28pt +\font\lbold=cmbx10 at 14.4pt +\font\bbold=cmbx10 at 12pt +\font\small=cmr8 +\font\tiny=cmr5 +\font\stt=cmtt9 +\catcode`\@=11\relax +% +% +% +% OTHER MACROS +% +\catcode`\~=11\relax \def\t{{\tt ~}} +\catcode`\~=\active\relax +\catcode`\!=0\relax !catcode`!\=11!relax +!def!esc{\}!def!escs{\! } +!catcode`!\=0!relax \catcode`\!=12\relax +\def\rqs{\rq\ } +\def\LaTeX{{\rm L\kern-.36em\raise.3ex\hbox{\font\sc=cmcsc10\sc a}\kern-.15em + T\kern-.1667em\lower.7ex\hbox{E}\kern-.125emX}} + +% makeshift macro +\catcode`\^^M=13\relax% +\def\setraw{\bgroup\rm@ligature\set@space\set@tab% +\set@cr\stt\raw@chars[11][13][13][13][13]\def^^M{\strut\par}\setraw@@}% +\edef\temp@macro{% + \noexpand\long\noexpand\def\noexpand\setraw@@\noexpand##1^^M##2% + \esc@ unsetraw{##1##2\noexpand\egroup}}\temp@macro % +\catcode`\^^M=5\relax% + + +\font\ninerm=cmr9 \font\eightrm=cmr8 +\font\ninei=cmmi9 \font\eighti=cmmi8 +\font\ninesy=cmsy9 \font\eightsy=cmsy8 +\font\ninebf=cmbx9 \font\eightbf=cmbx8 +\font\ninett=cmtt9 \font\eighttt=cmtt8 +\font\nineit=cmti9 \font\eightit=cmti8 +\font\ninesl=cmsl9 \font\eightsl=cmsl8 + +\font\sixrm=cmr6 +\font\sixi=cmmi6 +\font\sixsy=cmsy6 +\font\sixbf=cmbx6 + +\skewchar\ninei='177 \skewchar\eighti='177 \skewchar\sixi='177 +\skewchar\ninesy='60 \skewchar\eightsy='60 \skewchar\sixsy='60 +\hyphenchar\ninett=-1 \hyphenchar\eighttt=-1 \hyphenchar\tentt=-1 + +\font\tentex=cmtex10 +\font\inchhigh=cminch +\font\titlefont=cmssdc10 at 40pt % titles in chapter openings +\font\eightss=cmssq8 % quotations in chapter closings +\font\eightssi=cmssqi8 % ditto, slanted +\font\tenu=cmu10 % unslanted te~t italic +\font\manual=manfnt % METAFONT logo and special symbols +\font\magnifiedfiverm=cmr5 at 10pt % to demonstrate magnification + +\newskip\ttglue +\def\eightpoint{\def\rm{\fam0\eightrm}% switch to 8-point type + \textfont0=\eightrm \scriptfont0=\sixrm \scriptscriptfont0=\fiverm + \textfont1=\eighti \scriptfont1=\sixi \scriptscriptfont1=\fivei + \textfont2=\eightsy \scriptfont2=\sixsy \scriptscriptfont2=\fivesy + \textfont3=\tenex \scriptfont3=\tenex \scriptscriptfont3=\tenex + \textfont\itfam=\eightit \def\it{\fam\itfam\eightit}% + \textfont\slfam=\eightsl \def\sl{\fam\slfam\eightsl}% + \textfont\ttfam=\eighttt \def\tt{\fam\ttfam\eighttt}% + \textfont\bffam=\eightbf \scriptfont\bffam=\sixbf + \scriptscriptfont\bffam=\fivebf \def\bf{\fam\bffam\eightbf}%, + \tt \ttglue=.5em plus.25em minus.15em + \normalbaselineskip=9pt + \setbox\strutbox=\hbox{\vrule height7pt depth2pt width0pt}% + \let\sc=\sixrm \let\big=\eightbig \normalbaselines\rm} + + +%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% +%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% +% +% END OF EXTRA MACROS AND FONTS +% +%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% +%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% + + + +\message{<<document for programmers>>} +\catcode`\@=11\relax +\PAGENO=1 +\voffset=-0.3in + + +\ifx\pageno\undefined +\errmessage{Please run TeX if you want this article on how to use +<formlett.sty> to be processed as well!} +\fi + + +\parindent=0pt +\hsize=469.75499pt % the default +\vsize=9.6in %8.83in +%\vsize=8.83in + +\def\makefootline{\baselineskip=24pt \line{\the\footline}} +\footline={\lower5pt +\hbox to \hsize + {{\tenrm Jiang Z ~~~{\tensl Formlett: ~for letters to multiple receivers} +\hss \folio}}} + +\leftline{\hbold FORMLETT: ~~~for Letters to Multiple Receivers} +\bigskip + + +{\advance\leftskip by13mm \overfullrule=0pt +\advance\rightskip by 20mm %28mm +\sl +\noindent Zhuhan JIANG\par +\noindent School of Computing and Information Technology, + University of Western Sydney, Victoria Road, Parramatta NSW 2150, Australia. +{\sl ~~Email}:~z.jiang@uws.edu.au\par +\medskip +\rm\smooth +\noindent (Last updated on 26 May 2003)\par +\medskip + +\noindent +In this article, the author explains how to use a form-letter +style {\tt formlett.sty}, designed for plain \TeX\ and \LaTeX +\ or \LaTeX2e. {\tt formlett.sty} supports different parameter input +methods, parameter naming and defaulting mechanism, as well as +facilities for previewing parameter positions and printing +labels. It is written for the purpose of being powerful, robust +and above all easy to use.\par } + + +\begincolumns + +{\lbold Introduction} + +\smallskip + +In this modern world of ours, we often need to send a set of form +letters, personalised or non-personalised, to many receivers at +the same time. Or perhaps we would like to have a collection of +business letters or information brochures which we would like to +call upon {\sl instantly} whenever we need them. + +\medskip + +Our purpose here is therefore to describe a comprehensive +implementation of such a macro system, handling form letters +under \TeX\ or \LaTeX. The main objective is to provide an easy +way to output many form letters with their own parameters, with +or without the use of multiple files. There will be a coherent +and simple format for putting parameters inside a form letter, +with a number of helping facilities for such as naming parameters +and previewing their positions. A minimum support for printing +mailing labels is also provided. + + +\medskip + +The concept of macros [1] for form letters is not new: there +already exist macros in this connection such as {\tt merge}, {\tt +textmerg} and {\tt address} to name a few, see [2,3] for further +details. Our stress here is therefore laid on the ease to use, +along with the power and the robustness of the macros. + +\bigskip +{\lbold Format} + +\smallskip + +In this section, we always assume that the file {\tt formlett.sty} +or {\tt formlett.tex} of version {\tt 2.3} has +already been input. Certain version of {\tt formlett.sty} can be +obtained via anonymous ftp from CTAN sites at +{\tt macros /generic}. + +\medskip + +Essentially, each form letter, or letter format or letter +template, will be included between {\tt \string\beginletter} and +{\tt \string\endletter}. Letter parameters that will be specified +later on for each particular letter can be given by {\tt +\string\paras[<m>][<n>]}, representing the {\tt <m>}-th parameter +of the {\tt<n>}-the parameter group, at the positions you want +them to be. Let a cluster denote a complete collection of +parameters that may be specified for a form letter. Then we can +specify letter parameters group by group for a cluster such that +inside each group the parameters are given {\sl sequentially} and +a termination of one group should not affect the +resynchronisation for the next group. For instance we can keep +the address of a receiver as a single group, as it often contains +different number of (parameter) lines. + + +\medskip +We often want to treat a particular group of letter +parameters somewhat uniformly. This can be achieved by one of the +following commands + +\setraw + \blockparas[<m>][<n>][<pre>][<post>] + \addressparas[<m>][<n>][<width>][<indent>] +\unsetraw + +They represent parameters in the {\tt<n>}-th group, from the {\tt +<m>}-th to the last parameter of that group. For {\tt +\string\blockparas}, tokens {\tt <pre>} and {\tt <post>} are +those to be added in front and behind respectively each of the +legitimate parameters mentioned above. If {\tt <post>} is +{\tt\string\relax}, it will then not be appended at the end. +Instead, each chosen parameter will be put into a {\tt $\{\}$}- +pair before preceded by the token {\tt <pre>}. The reason for +this exception is that while {\tt <pre> and <post>} are meant to +be the front and end macros for each selected parameter, in the +case of {\tt <post>} being {\tt \string\relax}, we may regard +{\tt<pre>} as {\sl acting upon} each chosen parameter. + + +\medskip +The command {\tt \string\addressparas}, however, uses +{\tt \string\blockparas} indirectly and will put the chosen +parameters into a box of width {\tt<width>}. If any selected +parameter is longer than {\tt<width>}, then the line will be +wrapped around, with all wrapped potions being indented by an +{\tt<indent>}. This may be used to deal with very long address +lines. Incidentally, we may use {\tt \string\textbox} or {\tt +\string\addressbox} or {\tt \string\ADDRESSBOX} to control the +width of a single parameter. The general format reads + + +\setraw + \textbox[<width]{<materials>} + \addressbox[<width>][<indent>]{<materials>} + \ADDRESSBOX{<width>}{<indent>}{<materials>} +\unsetraw + +where the meaning of the macro parameters are self-explanatory. + + +\medskip + +For the macro parameters, we have for convenience provided the +following defaults for those in the squared brackets + +\setraw + <m>=1 + <n>=1 + <pre>=\noindent + <post>=\par + <width>= 8truecm + <indent>= 1.5em +\unsetraw + +This way, for instance, {\tt\string\paras[1][1]} is equivalent +to any of the following commands + +\setraw + \paras, \paras[1], \paras[][1], + \paras[1][], \paras[][] +\unsetraw + +and the following three commands are also the same + +\setraw + \addressbox{one address line} + \addressbox[8truecm]{one address line} + \addressbox[][1.5em]{one address line} +\unsetraw + + +\medskip + +Incidentally this is the reason why we used the second parameter +{\tt<n>} to represent the group number: the defaults can often be +dropped off more frequently. By default, all letter parameters +specified will be put into a group environment before putting +them into the form letter, unless {\tt \string\localparasfalse} +is issued beforehand. + +\medskip +To output a new letter entity, i.e a complete letter, +we may use + + +\setraw + \moreletter + para-1-1;para-1-2;para-1-3; ... + +para-2-1;para-2-2;... + + ... + +para-n-1;para-n-2; ... ;para-n-m ! +\unsetraw + + +where \lq{\tt ;}\rqs separate parameters inside a same group, +\lq{\tt +}\rqs separates groups, \lq{\tt !}\rqs ends a cluster of +parameters, and \lq{\tt ...}\rqs represent further letter +parameters. These three tokens are nothing special: we may change +them to for instance \lq{\tt ....}\rq, \lq{\tt ----}\rqs and +\lq{\tt ====}\rqs respectively by {\tt \string\blockmarks}, and +change them back to \lq{\tt ; + !}\rqs by {\tt +\string\defaultmarks}. For more general case, use + +\setraw + \delimiters{<A>}{<B>}{<C>} +\unsetraw + +where {\tt <A>}, {\tt <B>} and {\tt <C>} are the new toks +replacing \lq{\tt ; + !}\rqs respectively. If we have to use +these three special characters or tokens inside our {\sl letter +parameters}, then use {\tt \string\pstr}, {\tt\string\gstr} and +{\tt\string\cstr} respectively instead. + +\medskip + +For the case of many clusters, we may enclose them, separated by +any white spaces or empty lines, between {\tt +\string\beginpilemode} and {\tt \string\endpilemode} so that we +don't have to put {\tt \string\moreletter} in front of each +cluster of parameters. + + +\medskip +We may also enter letter parameters line by line. In other words, +we may essentially replace \lq{\tt;}\rqs in the {\tt +\string\moreletter} format by a normal line break. In this case, +we shall put clusters of parameters between {\tt +\string\beginblockmode} and {\tt \string\endblockmode}. Thus the +following commands + + +\setraw + \beginblockmode + <para-1-1> + <para-1-2> + + letter one + + <para-2-2> + ! + + <addr-1-1> + <addr-1-2> + ! letter two + \endblockmode +\unsetraw + + +will produce the required form letter for each cluster of +parameters. The general rules are as follows: + +{\parindent=1.5em +\item{$\bullet$} If a line contains {\tt \string\endblockmode} or {\tt !} +or {\tt +}, then everything else on that line is ignored and that +line serves as an end/cluster/group marking line in the given +priority order. + +\item{$\bullet$} Leading and trailing empty lines before or after +a complete cluster will be ignored, unless \lq{\tt ;}\rqs is +there to force the next (empty) line as a starting parameter. +\par } + +Obviously {\tt \string\blockmarks} provides a more sensible +delimiters for the {\tt blockmode}, under which we could have + +\setraw + \blockmarks\beginblockmode + ....... force next empty line active + + <para-1-2> + ------- - mark end of 1st group + + <para-2-2> + <para-2-3> + ======== end of cluster + + <other clusters> + \endblockmode +\unsetraw + +\medskip +A simpler and perhaps more often encountered scenario is +to use names and addresses only. In this case, there will be +essentially only {\sl one} group of parameters for each cluster. +Thus we may use empty lines to delimit the clusters, and use line +by line mode for the individual parameters. This way, each +block of consecutive nonempty lines in + +\setraw + \beginlinemode + <name-1> + <address-1-1> + <address-1-2> + + <name-2> + <1st part of addr-2-1> % + <continued part of line addr-2-1> + + <name-3> % letter three + \endlinemode +\unsetraw + + +will output a new complete letter, corresponding to the specified +letter parameters. + + +\medskip +{\smooth +Ideally, the name--address entries will be produced by a database +utility. Since they often contain special characters such as \lq +{\tt \#}\rqs and \lq{\tt \$}\rqs explicitly, we may wish to +change such characters in the parameters to the normal printable +ones. For this purpose, we could use correspondingly the pair +{\tt \string\beginrawblockmode$\{$<token>$\}$} with {\tt +\string\endrawblockmode} or the pair {\tt +\string\beginrawlinemode$\{$<token>$\}$} with {\tt +\string\endrawlinemode}. If {\tt <token>} is not empty, then we +use {\tt <token>} in place of {\tt \string\endrawblockmode} or +{\tt \string\endrawlinemode}. In other words, {\tt <token>} is +the password to leave the raw text mode. Since database utility +will in general produce a {\sl fixed} number of {\tt <m>} lines +for each cluster of parameters, we may use {\tt +\string\begindatamode[<token>]$\{$<m>$\}$} and {\tt +\string\enddatamode} (or {\tt<token>}) in place of {\tt +\string\beginrawlinemode} and {\tt\string\endrawlinemode} so that +each {\tt<m>} raw text lines, including the empty ones, will eject +a form letter. +} + + +\medskip + +It is often desirable that a letter form or format and the actual +parameters be kept in different files: it will help in archiving +and retrieving form letters. Furthermore, if a letter is quite +long such that the \TeX\ can't hold it in the memory, then we +{\sl have to} keep the letter content in a separate file. +Essentially we need to save everything between +{\tt\string\beginletter} and {\tt \string\endletter} into a +separate file, say, {\tt letter.let}, then later on use +{\tt\string\inputletter$\{$letter.let$\}$} to load in the letter +format. Should one prefer to keep everything inside a {\sl single} +file, however, he may use {\tt\string\beginfile [{\it +password}]$\{${\it file.ext}$\}$} and {\tt\string\endfile} (or +{\it password}) to create files such as {\tt letter.let} +mentioned above as a temporary scratch file. We note that {\tt +letter.let} will not contain {\tt\string\beginletter} and +{\tt\string\endletter} as {\tt \string\inputletter} will add them +properly for us. Also the extension {\tt .let} is preferred in +this connection as it can indicate that this type of format file +should not quite be regarded as the normal \TeX\ files. + +\medskip + +Likewise, it is also desirable to have a separate address or +general letter parameter file. For the address file, we remark +that we have to keep the pairing {\tt \string\beginlinemode} with +{\tt \string\endlinemode} or {\tt\string\beginblockmode} with +{\tt \string\endblockmode} inside the address file, if we are to +use any of them for some content of that file. Moreover, an +extension {\tt .adr} is recommended for such files. Thus for a +letter format or template saved in {\tt letter.let}, we may +choose {\tt letter.adr} as the name for the related address file. + +\medskip +After a letter format is completed for sometime, one may have +difficulty in recalling what those parameters should refer to +when using the form letter again. For this purpose, we provide +a simple mechanism with {\tt\string\paranames} and {\tt +\string\showparas}. To be more precise, if one puts {\tt +\string\paranames\ name-1-1; ...; <etc>!} at the very beginning of +the letter format, then one can use {\tt\string\showparas} +outside to output a letter with its parameters replaced by their +names. + +\medskip + +An alternative way, or rather a way of highlighting the positions +of the letter parameters is to use {\tt\string\preview}. Under +{\tt\string\preview}, or {\tt \string\previewtrue}, all +parameters given by {\tt\string\paras[<m>][<n>]} will be boxed +with double borderlines, similar to {\tt \previewtrue +\paras[3][2]}, the number {\tt<n>-<m>} inside (corresponding to +{\tt 2-3} in the shown box) denotes the {\tt<m>}-th parameter of +the {\tt <n>}-th group. However, the parameters given by +{\tt\string\blockparas} or {\tt\string\addressparas} will be +boxed with triple borderlines. Moreover, the macro parameters +{\tt<pre>} and {\tt <post>} will also be displayed explicitly. +Since {\tt\string\addressparas} is essentially a special way of +using {\tt\string\blockparas}, it is highlighted via that for the +{\tt\string\blockparas}. In particular, +{\tt\string\blockparas[3][6][\string\x][\string\y]} for instance +will display under {\tt \string\preview} the following box + +\smallskip +{\previewtrue \blockparas[3][6][\x][\y]} + + +\medskip + +Sometimes we may want to have each given {\sl empty} letter +parameter automatically replaced by a particular {\sl default} +parameter. This can be easily done by using {\tt +\string\loaddefaultparas} inside your letter format, i.e. +essentially between {\tt \string\beginletter} and {\tt +\string\endletter}, before any calling of the letter parameters +via {\tt \string\paras} etc. Of course, the effect of {\tt +\string\loaddefaultparas} is nil unless a command {\tt +\string\paradefaults} is issued inside or (better still) outside +the letter format. We note that {\tt \string\paradefaults} takes +the macro parameters in the exact way as {\tt \string\paranames} +does. One note of caution: {\tt \string\paradefaults} and {\tt +\string\paranames} always use the default delimiters \lq{\tt ; + +!}\rqs no matter how you changed them via {\tt +\string\delimiters}. This is to avoid unnecessary complications. + +\medskip + +We note that printing labels is no more than designing a special +letter template. The mechanism provided in {\tt formlett} however +is to pick a subblock of parameters as the address. Basically all +the form letter output inside {\tt\string\beginlabels} and +{\tt\string\endlabels} will produce labels instead, taking the +first parameter group as the address by default (see Appendix for +more details). Incidentally, labels can be printed in single or +double columns depending upon the choice of label width. + +\medskip + +To conclude this section, we remark that if you want to put {\tt +\string\input\ {\sl filename} } into a letter parameter, make +sure that there is a {\sl nontrivial} space following the {\sl +filename}. To be on the safe side, always use {\tt +\string\inputfile $\{$\sl filename.ext$\}$} instead. Also {\tt +<!>}, when output to screen, is an invitation to read the log +file for a warning message. + +\bigskip +{\lbold Example} + + +\smallskip + +The following is an example. If you are running plain \TeX, add +{\tt\string\input\ formlett} at the top. But if you are running +\LaTeX, then just add at the top the line + +\linecount=1\relax +\stt\beginrawlist[][][4][][][3.3in]{} + \documentstyle[formlett]{article} + \begin{document} +\endrawlist +\rm + + + +The line numbering on the right hand side is for reference only, +as in the other occurrences later on. The example reads as +follows. + +\medskip + +\stt\beginrawlist[][][4][][][3.3in]{} + \beginletter + \paranames % optional + \tt<<FULL NAME>>;% + \tt<<ADDRESS-etc>>;% + +\tt<<GIVEN NAME>>;% + \tt<<MISSING ITEM>>;% + \tt<<PHONE NUMBER>>! + \loaddefaultparas % optional + + \NOPAGENUMBERS\parindent=0pt + \noindent{\it\paras[1]}\par + \blockparas[2]\par\bigskip + + Dear \paras[1][2],\par\medskip + We have been looking for + \paras[2][2] for quite a while + without any luck, could you help + us out? If so, please ring + \paras[3][2]. \par\medskip + Cheers!\hfill Michael\vfill\eject + \endletter + \preview \showparas +\endrawlist +\rm + + +\medskip + +%%%%%%%%%%%% +% letter top +%%%%%%%%%%%% + + \beginletter +\sl +\hsize=3.1in\relax +\medskip + \paranames % optional + \tt<<FULL NAME>>;% + \tt<<ADDRESS-etc>>;% + +\tt<<GIVEN NAME>>;% + \tt<<MISSING ITEM>>;% + \tt<<PHONE NUMBER>>! + \loaddefaultparas % optional + + \NOPAGENUMBERS\parindent=0pt\overfullrule=0pt + \noindent{\it\paras[1]}\par + \blockparas[2]\par\medskip + + Dear \paras[1][2], + + \smallskip + We have been looking for + \paras[2][2] for quite a while + without any luck, could you help + us out? If so, please ring + \paras[3][2]. \par\medskip + Cheers!\hfill Michael\par %\vfill\eject +\medskip + \endletter + +%%%%%%%%%%%% +% letter end +%%%%%%%%%%%% + + +The above is a typical letter format or form letter. Command +{\tt\string\preview} in the last line gives + +{\preview} + +and, the name of the parameters are displayed via +{\tt\string\showparas} as follows + +\showparas + + +\medskip + +In other words, we can have a good understanding about what a +letter format does {\sl without} reading its source code, which +will be very handy for archiving and retrieving letter templates. +To provide defaults for letter parameters and output new letters +via {\tt blockmode}, we may add \par + +\medskip +\stt\beginrawlist[][][4][][][3.3in]{} + \paradefaults % optional + To whom this may concern + +Sir or Madam;something;% + 061-225-9905! + + \blockmarks + \beginrawblockmode{} + + Mrs L Stenson + #1-20 Sunset Street + Hillside, Norway + ------ + Louise + a Bible + 220-8888 + ========= + + ...... + + Above empty line active + + \endrawblockmode +\endrawlist +\rm + +%%%%%%%%%%%% +% 1st letter top +%%%%%%%%%%%% +\paradefaults % optional + To whom this may concern ++Sir or Madam;something;% + 061-225-9905! + +%%%%%%%%%%%% +% 1st letter end +%%%%%%%%%%%% + +\medskip +We note the parameters contain special characters \#. That is +the reason why we used {\tt\string\beginrawblockmode}. Now +suppose we have to wrap a very long address line, we could use +{\tt \string\addressbox} to control an {\sl individual} +parameter. The following is a typical case + +\medskip +\stt\beginrawlist[][][4][][][3.3in]{} + \defaultmarks + \moreletter + S Wales,;% + \addressbox[2in][1em]{% + University of Manchester Institute + of Science and Technology, This is + a long address line: it will be + wrapped up automatically.}% + +;a \TeX\ package \gstr\ manual and + many more (\cstr)! +\endrawlist +\rm + +\medskip +which is manifested in the following output + +%%%%%%%%%%%% +% 2nd letter top +%%%%%%%%%%%% +\defaultmarks +\moreletter + S Wales,;% + \addressbox[2in][1em]{% + University of Manchester Institute + of Science and Technology, This is + a long address line: it will be + wrapped up automatically.}% ++;a \TeX\ package \gstr\ manual and + many more (\cstr)! +%%%%%%%%%%%% +% 2nd letter end +%%%%%%%%%%%% + + +\medskip + +Please note that the default parameters have been used there. In +the case of putting {\sl only} name and address into a form +letter, we may typically use {\tt linemode} via e.g. + +\medskip +\stt\beginrawlist[][][4][][][3.3in]{} + \beginlinemode + Z Jiang + UNE, Arimdale + + T Ribbons + UMIST, Manchester + \endlinemode + \end{document} +\endrawlist +\rm + +\medskip + +If one saves lines 4-22 to file {\tt myletter.let}, lines 25-63 +or simply lines 57-63 to file {\tt myletter.adr}, then we can for +instance produce via \LaTeX\ the form letter for multiple +receivers by + +\setraw + \documentstyle[formlett]{article} + \begin{document} + \inputletter{myletter.let} + \showparas \preview + \paradefaults To whom it may concern! + \inputfile{myletter.adr} + \beginlabels % 1st parameter group as address + \inputfile{myletter.adr} % for labels + \endlabels + \end{document} +\unsetraw + +{\smooth + +If one puts commands {\tt\string\beginlables} and +{\tt\string\endlabels} at e.g. immediately after line 2 and 63 +respectively, then one gets all the posting labels instead. If +one puts commands {\tt\string\beginfile$\{$scratch.adr$\}$} and +{\tt\string\endfile} there respectively, then by adding after +{\tt\string\endfile} the commands + +\setraw + \inputfile{scratch.adr} + \beginlabels \inputfile{scratch.adr} \endlabels +\unsetraw + +one gets both form letters and the labels. If one insists on not +writing out auxiliary scratch files, then use {\tt \string\input +\ formlett.sty \string\initstyle\ [{\it styles}]$\{${\tt +article}$\}\{${\it preamble}$\}$} to replace {\tt +\string\documentstyle\ [formlett, {\it styles}]$\{$article$\}$ +{\it preamble} \string\begin$\{$document$\}$}, which will be +valid for \LaTeX\ but ignored for \TeX\ , and will enable one to +use {\tt \string\labelsquit} at the end to read in the current +document again with all the letters there converted into the +corresponding labels. If you only want to execute certain +commands the first time round (i.e. before {\tt +\string\labelsquit} re-reads the file again), use {\tt +\string\firstread$\{${\it commands}$\}$} for this purpose. + +} + + +\bigskip +{\lbold Macros} + + +\smallskip + +One of the main technical features of this set of macros is the +extensive use of arrays, both one dimensional and two +dimensional. The one dimensional array {\tt STK} that we use is +essentially an user-defined stack, while the two dimensional +arrays {\tt LET} and {\tt DEF} are more like structure or record +in other programming languages. First let us make clear that an +array (or stack) of name, say {\tt ABC}, will contain elements +{\tt \string\ABC\it m\tt\t} for one dimensional and {\tt +\string\ABC\it m\tt*\it n\tt\t} for two dimensional case, where +$m$ and $n$ are some non-negative integers representing row and +column numbers respectively. The first element, if necessary, +will be used to denote the length of that raw. Thus, {\tt +\string\ABC1*0\t} for instance will denote the number of elements +in the first raw of a two dimensional array {\tt ABC}. + + +\medskip + +Let us now look at how a mechanism of defaulting {\sl macro} +parameters is formulated. For this purpose, we first define a +stack {\tt STK} and its stack pointer {\tt \string\STKcount} by + +\setraw + \def\make@STKcount{\csname newcount\endcsname + \STKcount\global\STKcount=0\relax} + \ifx\STKcount\undefined@\def\next{% + \make@STKcount}\else\def\next{}\fi\next + \long\def\push#1{\global + \advance\STKcount1\relax + \expandafter\gdef\csname STK\the + \STKcount\string~\endcsname{#1}} + \def\popnil{\expandafter\let + \expandafter\temp@macro\csname + STK\the\STKcount\string~\endcsname + \ifnum\STKcount>0\global\expandafter + \let\csname STK\the\STKcount + \string~\endcsname=\undefined@ + \global\advance\STKcount-1% + \else + \def\temp@macro{}\global\STKcount=0% + \fi\relax } + \def\pop{\popnil\temp@macro} +\unsetraw + + +The first four lines of code will ensure that the stack pointer +will not be flushed if this useful subset of macros is loaded +again by for instance another style file in the middle of a \TeX +\ document. With the above code, we can stack away anything by +{\tt\string\push$\{anything\}$} and later use {\tt \string\pop} +to recall them or {\tt \string\popnil} to remove one element from +the stack. + + +\medskip +So, how can we make defaults for certain empty macro +parameters? The simplest case is perhaps + + +\setraw + \long\def\get@nepara[#1][#2]{{% + \def\next@{#2}% + \ifx\next@\empty\push{#1}\else + \push{#2}\fi}\ag@in} + \long\def\get@para\left@#1\right@{% + \def\check@{% + \ifx[\next@ + \def\full@####1{\get@nepara[#1]####1}% + \else + \def\full@{\get@nepara[#1][#1]}\fi + \full@}% + \futurelet\next@\check@} +\unsetraw + + + +Basically, {\tt\string\get@onepara[<A>][<B>]} will push the +default {\tt <A>} to the stack {\tt STK} unless {\tt <B>} is +nonempty. And {\tt\string \get@para\string \left@<A>\string +\right@} will look at the next token to be read, if it is +character \lq{\tt[}\rq, then reads in a macro parameter in the +form of {\tt [<B>]} and then push {\tt <B>} to the stack {\tt +STK}, otherwise push the default {\tt <A>} to that stack. For the +more general case, we need to define + + +\setraw + \long\def\do@nepara + \left@#1\right@#2\p@r@end{% + \gdef\p@r@data{#2}\global\advance + \p@r@count1\get@para\left@#1\right@} + \def\ag@in{\ifx\p@r@data\empty + \def\next@{\relax\getp@r@s\run@CMD}% + \else\def\next@{\expandafter\do@nepara + \p@r@data\p@r@end}% + \fi\next@} + \def\run@CMD{\csname STK\the\STKcount + \string~\endcsname} + \newcount\p@r@count + \long\def\st@ckparas#1\p@r@end{% + \global\p@r@count=0% + \gdef\p@r@data{#1}\ag@in} +\unsetraw + + +so that {\tt\string\st@ckparas \string\left@<A>\string\right@ +...\penalty -20 \string\left@<B>\string\right@ ... +\string\p@r@end} will look for parameters enclosed in {\tt []} +one by one, exhausting all the defaults paired by +{\tt\string\left@} and {\tt \string\right@}. If future tokens +inside {\tt []} are not found, or empty, the default tokens +inside the corresponding pair {\tt\string\left@ \string\right@} +will be used. The new or default tokens will be pushed to the +general-purpose stack {\tt STK} for a later use, while {\tt +\string\p@r@count} records the total number of the default macro +parameters. We note that on exit of {\tt \string\st@ckparas}, the +control is passed to {\tt\string\runCMD}. + +\medskip +Once all macro parameters are pushed to the stack, we may +transfer them to separate toks {\tt \string\p@r@one} to {\tt +\string\p@r@nine} (an easier-to-use format) defined by + +\setraw + \newtoks\p@r@one\newtoks\p@r@two + \newtoks\p@r@three\newtoks\p@r@four + \newtoks\p@r@five \newtoks\p@r@six + \newtoks\p@r@seven\newtoks\p@r@eight + \newtoks\p@r@nine + \def\clrp@r@s{\global\p@r@one={}% + \global\p@r@two={}\global\p@r@three={}% + \global\p@r@four={}\global\p@r@five={}% + \global\p@r@six={}\global\p@r@seven={}% + \global\p@r@eight={}\global\p@r@nine={}} +\unsetraw + +where {\tt\string\clrp@r@s} clears all the parameter toks. We can +then retrieve parameters from the stack {\tt STK} to the +parameter toks via {\tt\string \getp@r@s} with the following code + + +\setraw + \newcount\temp@count + \def\getp@r@s{\temp@count=\p@r@count + {\loop + \ifnum\temp@count>0 + \expandafter\let\expandafter + \t@macro\csname STK\the\STKcount + \string~\endcsname + \ifcase\temp@count + \or\global\p@r@one=\expandafter{\t@macro}% + \or\global\p@r@two=\expandafter{\t@macro}% + \or\global\p@r@three=\expandafter{\t@macro}% + \or\global\p@r@four=\expandafter{\t@macro}% + \or\global\p@r@five=\expandafter{\t@macro}% + \or\global\p@r@six=\expandafter{\t@macro}% + \or\global\p@r@seven=\expandafter{\t@macro}% + \or\global\p@r@eight=\expandafter{\t@macro}% + \or\global\p@r@nine=\expandafter{\t@macro}% + \else + \errmessage + {Parameter capacity exceeded.}% + \fi \global\expandafter\let + \csname STK\the\STKcount + \string~\endcsname=\undefined@% + \global\advance\STKcount-1% + \global\advance\temp@count-1\relax + \fi + \ifnum\temp@count>0\repeat}} +\unsetraw + + + +\medskip +We are now ready to use the above mechanism to default +macro parameters for some already defined macros. Suppose we have +already defined a macro {\tt \string\crudemac[<A>][<B>]} which +takes two macro parameters {\tt <A>} and {\tt<B>}, and we want to +define a new macro {\tt \string\smartmac} which behaves like {\tt +\string\crudemac} but will default the macro parameters {\tt <A>} +and {\tt <B>} to for instance 9 and 88 respectively. For this +purpose, we may define {\tt \string\smartmac} via + + + +\setraw + \def\smartmac{\push{% + \edef\next@@{\noexpand + \crudemac[\the\p@r@one][\the\p@r@two]}% + \popnil\clrp@r@s\next@@}\st@ckparas + \left@9\right@\left@88\right@\p@r@end} +\unsetraw + +This way, all the followings + +\setraw + \crudemac[9][88], \smartmac[9][88], + \smartmac, \smartmac[], \smartmac[][], + \smartmac[9], \smartmac[9][], \smartmac[][88] +\unsetraw + +are the same under the assumption that we shall not use +characters \lq{\tt[}\rqs and \lq{\tt]}\rqs for the macro +parameters themselves, and that {\tt\string\crudemac} will not +change any {\tt \string\catcode} inside. The reason for this +latter condition lies in the fact that when {\tt\string\smartmac} +looks at the next character, the character is in a sense already +read. If {\tt \string\crudemac} changes the {\tt\string\catcode} +of that particular character, then the one that is already read +via {\tt\string\futurelet} will have a misleading +{\tt\string\catcode}. If one has to change {\tt \string\catcode} +inside but wants to avoid this possible misbehavior, always put +full number of empty brackets \lq{\tt[]}\rqs for the defaults, or +put a {\tt\string\relax} immediately afterwards. Better still, +make the last parameter to appear in a mandatory \lq$\{\}$\rqs form +rather than the \lq{\tt []}\rqs form via the {\tt \#$\{$} mechanism +[1], so that those square brackets can be dropped off. + + +\medskip + + +For example, we as a by-product also defined a 100\% +verbatim mode by + +{\stt +\ \ \string\begin@@rawlist[$A$][$B$][$C$][$D$][$E$][$F$]$G$ }\par +\setraw + <general text> + \endrawlist +\unsetraw + + +where, for the line numbering of the raw text, {\tt $A$}, ..., +{\tt $G$} represent respectively the initial value, increment +step, number of digits, font, horizontal position of text, +horizontal shift of numbering, and the password to leave raw text +mode. Incidentally, {\tt \string\linecount} records the current +line numbering count. Our purpose is to define {\tt +\string\beginrawlist} so that its format is + +{\stt +\ \ \string\beginrawlist[$A$][$B$][$C$][$D$][$E$][$F$]$\{G\}$}\par + +in which $A$ to $F$ are {\sl optional} while $\{G\}$ is mandatory +even though $G$ can be empty --- implying {\tt +\string\endrawlist} is the password to leave the raw-text mode. +For this purpose, we first define + +\setraw +\def\begin@rawlist[#1][#2][#3][#4][#5][#6]#{% + \begin@@rawlist[#1][#2][#3][#4][#5][#6]}% +\unsetraw + +to make \lq$\{\}$\rqs pair compulsory for {\tt \#7}, then we +provide the defaults for {\tt $A$} to {$F$} as +{\tt\string\linecount}, {\tt 1}, {\tt 0}, {\tt \string\tiny}, +{\tt 0pt} and {\tt 0pt} respectively via + +\setraw +\def\beginrawlist{\push{% + \edef\next@@{\noexpand\begin@rawlist + [\the\p@r@one][\the\p@r@two][\the\p@r@three]% + [\the\p@r@four][\the\p@r@five][\the\p@r@six]}% + \popnil\clrp@r@s\next@@}% end of push + \font\tiny@rm=cmr5% + \edef\temp@macro{% + \noexpand\left@\the\linecount\noexpand\right@ + \noexpand\left@1\noexpand\right@ + \noexpand\left@0\noexpand\right@ + \noexpand\left@\noexpand\tiny@rm + \noexpand\right@ + \noexpand\left@0pt\noexpand\right@ + \noexpand\left@0pt\noexpand\right@}% + \expandafter\st@ckparas\temp@macro\p@r@end}% +\unsetraw + +\medskip + +{\smooth +\relax Likewise, we could also similarly define {\tt \string\printfile +[...]}$\{${\it filename.ext}$\}$ so that \lq{\tt [...]}\rqs takes +a same defaulting scheme. } + + +\medskip +There are several tiny but very useful macros in {\tt formlett} +which are used again and again. One of such macros is for testing +if one string contains another string. The following {\tt +\string\test@str} tests if string {\tt\#1} is contained in string +{\tt\#2} + + +\setraw + \newif\iftemp@if \newtoks\temp@toks + % return \temp@iftrue if yes, + % \first@half,\second@half are global + \long\def\test@str#1#2{% + \long\def\strip@endmark##1\s@fetymarkI + #1\s@fetymark{\gdef\second@half{##1}}% + \long\def\strip@markI##1\s@fetymarkI + \s@fetymark{\gdef\first@half{##1}}% + \long\def\p@rse##1#1##2\s@fetymark{% + \gdef\first@half{##1}% + \gdef\second@half{##2}% + \ifx\second@half\empty + \strip@markI##1\s@fetymark\temp@iffalse + \else + \strip@endmark##2\s@fetymark\temp@iftrue + \fi}% + \temp@toks={#2\s@fetymarkI#1\s@fetymark}% + \expandafter\p@rse\the\temp@toks }% +\unsetraw + + +The {\tt\string\first@half} will contain the tokens upto but +excluding the substring {\tt\#1}, while the {\tt +\string\second@half} will contain the tokens after the {\sl +first} appearance of {\tt\#1}. Should {\tt\#2} not contain string +{\tt\#1} at all, then {\tt \string\first@half} is the whole +string {\tt\#2} whereas {\tt \string\second@half} is empty. + +\medskip + +The small macros such as the above one and the stack utilities, +though built for the main purpose of {\tt formlett}, provide also +a good \lq infrastructure\rqs for other house-keepings. One of +the sidekicks of this type is our macro for commenting out blocks +of text inside a \TeX\ file. Basically, {\tt +\string\begincomment$\{$\it password$\}$} will set {\sl all} +characters of code {\tt0} to {\tt \string\MAX@CHR@CODE} +(={\tt255} by default) to catcode 11 or 12, and look for the {\it +password}, or {\tt \string\endcomment} in the absence of a +password, to quit the comment mode. In comparison to a very +compact macro {\tt comment.sty} (currently at version 3.0) +written by Victor Eijkhout, quitting comment mode via a password +here seems more flexible. + + + + +\medskip +As for the other macros in {\tt formlett}, it is difficult to +explain them without printing out all of them. So instead, we +shall explain simply one of the strategies in parsing the letter +parameters. Suppose $W$ is a list of parameters separated by +\lq{\tt+}\rqs and ended by \lq{\tt!}\rq, i.e. $W$ is like +{\tt<A>+<B>+...+<S>!}. Then it will be easy to parse all the +parameters one by one (to a stack for instance) if we can know +whether there is precisely one parameter left over. To detect it, +we use + + + +\setraw + \newif\ifl@stline + \long\def\testl@stline + #1+#2!#3\s@fetymark{% + \def\next{#2}\ifx\next\empty + \l@stlinetrue\else\l@stlinefalse\fi + \def\next{#3}\def\nextsample{+!}% + \ifx\next\nextsample\l@stlinefalse\fi} +\unsetraw + + + +{\smooth Then the command +{\tt \string\testl@stline} {\tt $W$+!\string\s@fetymark } +will set {\tt \string\l@stlinetrue} if +there is only one parameter left in $W$, and will set {\tt +\string\l@stlinefalse} if otherwise. } + + + +\medskip + +Finally, for those wizard users who want to do everything their own way, +we just note that if for instance the 3rd letter parameter of the 2nd +group of a cluster is given as {\tt<A>}, then {\tt \string\LET2*3\t} +will contain {\tt \string\b@group \string\relax {\tt<A>}\string\e@group} +right after a cluster is read in. {\tt \string\DEF2*3\string~}, on the +other hand, contains the corresponding default parameter in the same +fashion. Furthermore, the command +{\tt\string\checkparas[$m$][$n$]$\{$LET$\}$} will copy the content of +{\tt\string\paras[$m$][$n$]}, minus the `wrapping' extra tokens +{\tt\string\b@group\string\relax} and {\tt\string\e@group}, to +{\tt\string\cachedata} and set {\tt\string\ifemptyparas} to true or +false depending on whether the content is empty or not. This way, a user +may even change the characteristics of his letter template by first +testing the content of the supplied individual parameters. However, we +note that if {\tt\string \loaddefaultparas} is executed, then the {\tt +LET} array, when some of its elements are not supplied, will contain the +corresponding elements of the {\tt DEF} array. Hence care must be +exercised under such circumstances, when interpreting the +{\tt\string\cachedata} generated by +{\tt\string\checkparas[$m$][$n$]$\{$LET$\}$}. If necessary, we may use +{\tt\string\delparadefaults} to delete current default parameter array +{\tt DEF} so as to conduct {\tt\string\checkparas$\{$LET$\}$} more +precisely. So if anyone wants to manipulate furthermore letter +parameters inside a letter template, he or she will now at least know +where to look at. + +%\penalty -50 +\bigskip +{\lbold References} + +\smallskip +{\parindent=2em +\item{[1].} Knuth D E, {\sl The \TeX book}, Reading, Mass., +Addison-Wesley, 1992. \par +\item{[2].} Piff M, Text merges in \TeX\ and \LaTeX, {\sl TUGboad}, +13(4):518, 1993. \par +\item{[3].} Damrau J and Wester M, Form letters with 3-across +labels capacity, {\sl TUGboat}, 13(4):510, 1991. +\par +} + + +\penalty -50\bigskip + +{\lbold Appendix} + + +\smallskip + + +In the followings, we give a brief summary of the new commands +given by {\tt formlett} version 2.3. + +\medskip + +Let $m$ and $n$ be numbers, $p$, $q$ and $r$ be dimensions, $A$, +$B$, $P$, $G$, $C$ and $T$ be tokens, and $X$ be a box. +Furthermore, we shall denote by $R$ a full set of letter +parameters ended by \lq{\tt !}\rq, with \lq{\tt;}\rqs separating +parameters inside a same group and \lq{\tt+}\rqs separating +different parameter groups. We moreover denote $R$ by $F$, when +\lq{\tt ; + !}\rqs there can be replaced by \lq$P$ $G$ $C$\rqs +respectively if {\tt \string\delimiters$\{P\}\{G\}\{C\}$} is +issued. In the commands tabulated below, the macro parameters +contained in squared brackets support default. In particular, the +defaults are $m$={\tt 1}, $n$={\tt 1}, $p$={\tt 8truecm}, +$q$={\tt 1.5em}, $r$={\tt 3pt}, $A$={\tt\string\noindent}, +$B$={\tt\string\par}, {\tt\string\previewfalse}, +{\tt\string\localparastrue} and {\tt\string\nodefaultsfalse}. + + +%\penalty-10000 + +\vskip 0pt plus 5cm + + +\newdimen\tempdimone +\newdimen\tempdimtwo +\tempdimone=\hsize +\advance\tempdimone by-0.2pt +\tempdimtwo=\hsize +\advance\tempdimtwo by-1.8in +\def\hruler{\hrule width \tempdimone} +\long\def\entry#1#2{% +\par\hbox to \tempdimone{\noindent + \vrule~\textbox[1.7in]{#1}~\hss + \vrule~\textbox[\tempdimtwo]{\raggedright#2}~\vrule}% + \par} + +\long\def\longentry#1#2#3{% +\par\hbox to \tempdimone{\noindent + \vrule~\textbox[3in]{#1}~\hss~\vrule}\par + {\kern-8pt \advance\tempdimtwo0.10in + \vrule width1.7in height0pt \vrule width\tempdimtwo height 0.4pt \par + \kern-3pt} + \entry{#2}{#3}} + +\long\def\Longentry#1#2#3{% +\par\hbox to \tempdimone{\noindent + \vrule~\textbox[3in]{#1}~\hss~\vrule}\par + {\advance\tempdimtwo0.08in\kern-1pt + \vrule~\hfill\vrule width \tempdimtwo height 0.4pt \vrule\par + \kern-2.5pt}% + \entry{#2}{#3}} + + + +\medskip \penalty-100 +{\eightpoint +\nointerlineskip\parskip=0pt + +\hruler +\entry{{\tt\string\paras[$m$][$n$]}}% + {$m^{th}$ parameter of $n^{th}$ group }% + +\entry{{\tt\string\blockparas[$m$][$n$][$A$][$B$]}}% + {$m^{th}$ to the last parameter of $n^{th}$ group, each +preceded by $A$ and followed by $B$, wrapped by $\{$\penalty +1000$\}$ if +$B$={\tt\string\relax}} + +\entry{{\tt\string\addressparas[$m$][$n$][$p$][$q$]}}% + {$m^{th}$ to the last parameter of $n^{th}$ group, each put +into a box of width $p$ with indent $q$ for wrapped portions} + + +\entry{{\tt\string\loaddefaultparas}}% + {fill empty parameters with defaults} + +\hruler \penalty-1000 +\hruler + + +\entry{{\tt\string\checkparas[$m$][$n$]$\{T\}$}}% + {$m^{th}$ parameter of $n^{th}$ group copied to {\tt\string\cachedata}; + {\tt\string\ifemptyparas} is true if element is empty; $T$ is often + {\tt LET} or {\tt DEF}}% + +\hruler + + +\entry{{\tt\string\moreletter\ $F$}}% + {use parameters $F$ to output a new letter} + + +\entry{{\tt\string\paranames\ $R$}}% + {use $R$ as parameter names} + +\entry{{\tt\string\paradefaults\ $R$}}% + {use $R$ as default parameters} + + +\entry{{\tt\string\delparadefaults}}% + {delete default parameters} + +%\hruler \penalty-1000 +\hruler + + +\entry{{\tt\string\delimiters$\{P\}\{G\}\{C\}$}}% + {use $P$, $G$, $C$ as delimiters} + + +\entry{{\tt\string\defaultmarks}}% + {use \lq{\tt ; + !}\rqs as delimiters} + + +\entry{{\tt\string\blockmarks}}% + {use \lq{\tt ....}\rq, \lq{\tt ----}\rq, \lq{\tt ====}\rqs as delimiters} + +%\hruler \penalty -1000 +\hruler + +\entry{{\tt\string\preview}}% + {highlight parameter positions} + +\entry{{\tt\string\showparas}}% + {display parameter names, if any} + +\entry{{\tt\string\inputletter$\{file.ext\}$}}% + {input letter content} + +\entry{{\tt\string\inputfile$\{file.ext\}$}}% + {input $file.ext$} + +%\hruler \penalty -1000 +\hruler + + +\entry{% +$\left\{\matrix{ \hbox{\tt\string\beginletter}\cr +\hbox{\tt\string\endletter~~}\cr}\right.$ }% + {delimiters for letter content (template)} + +\entry{% +$\left\{\matrix{ \hbox{\tt\string\beginpilemode}\cr +\hbox{\tt\string\endpilemode~~}\cr}\right.$ }% + {normal letter parameters cluster-wise} + + +\entry{% +$\left\{\matrix{ \hbox{\tt\string\beginblockmode}\cr +\hbox{\tt\string\endblockmode~~}\cr}\right.$ }% + {for line-by-line blocks of parameters, empty lines active +within each cluster} + + +\entry{% +$\left\{\matrix{ \hbox{\tt\string\beginlinemode}\cr +\hbox{\tt\string\endlinemode~~}\cr}\right.$ }% + {for line-by-line parameters, empty lines delimit clusters} + +%\hruler \penalty-1000 +\hruler + +\entry{% +$\left\{\matrix{ \hbox{\tt\string\beginrawblockmode$\{T\}$}\cr +\hbox{\tt\string\endrawblockmode\ \ \ \ \ }\cr}\right.$ }% + {raw text mode; nonempty $T$ replaces {\tt\string\endrawblockmode} + to mark end} + + +\entry{% +$\left\{\matrix{ \hbox{\tt\string\beginrawlinemode$\{T\}$}\cr +\hbox{\tt\string\endrawlinemode\ \ \ \ \ \ }\cr}\right.$ }% + {raw text parameters and active spaces etc} + +\entry{% +$\left\{\matrix{ \hbox{\tt\string\begindatamode[$T$]$\{m\}$}\cr +\hbox{\tt\string\enddatamode\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ }\cr}\right.$ }% + {$m$ raw text lines for one form letter} + +\hruler + +\entry{% +$\left\{\matrix{ \hbox{\tt\string\begincolumns[$a$][$b$]}\cr +\hbox{\tt\string\endcolumns\ \ \ \ \ \ \ }\cr}\right.$ }% + {$a$-columns separated by distance $b$} + + +\entry{% +$\left\{\matrix{ \hbox{\tt\string\begincomment$\{T\}$}\cr +\hbox{\tt\string\endcomment\ \ \ \ \ }\cr}\right.$\par + \ \ \ {\tiny }}% + {comment out lines, nonempty $T$ replaces {\tt +\string\endcomment} to mark last {\sl full line} for comment} + + +\entry{% +$\left\{\matrix{ \hbox{\tt\string\beginfile[$T$]$\{{\it +file.ext}\}$}\cr +\hbox{\tt\string\endfile\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ }\cr}\right.$\par + \ \ \ {\tiny }}% + {write text verbatim to file {\it file.ext} (empty implies {\tt +scr@tch@.tex}), nonempty $T$ replaces {\tt +\string\endfile} to mark last full line} + + + +\hruler + + +\entry{{\tt\string\PAGENO=1}}% + {page number reset to 1} + + +\entry{{\tt\string\NOPAGENUMBERS}}% + {no page numbers} + + +\entry{{\tt\string\textbox[$p$]$\{text\}$}}% + {$text$ into box of width $p$} + + +\entry{{\tt\string\boxmore[$r$]$\{X\}$}}% + {add borderline to box $X$ at a distance $r$} + + +\entry{{\tt\string\addressbox[$p$][$q$]$\{text\}$}}% + {$text$ into box of width $p$, with wrapped options indented +by $q$} + +\hruler + + +\entry{{\tt\string\previewfalse}}% + {given parameters instead of highlighted boxes will be shown} + + +\entry{{\tt\string\localparastrue}}% + {letter parameters put into $\{\}$ before displayed} + + +\entry{{\tt\string\nodefaultsfalse}}% + {take defaults for empty letter parameters} + +\hruler + +\entry{{\tt\string\previewtrue}}{{\it cf.} above} + + +\entry{{\tt\string\localparasfalse}}{} + + +\entry{{\tt\string\nodefaultstrue}}{} + +\hruler + +\vskip0pt plus 1cm +~\hfill $\underline{\hbox{\sl Table continues in the next page}}$ + +\penalty-5000 +\hruler + + +\Longentry{% +$\left\{\matrix{ \hbox{\tt\string\beginrawlist + [$a$][$b$][$c$][$d$][$e$][$f$]$\{g\}$}\cr + \hbox{\tt\string\endrawlist\hskip3.4cm}\cr}\right.$ }% + {\strut\par{\sl defaults:}\everypar={\hbox{\ \ \ }}\par\par + $a$={\tt\string\linecount},\par + $b$={\tt1}, $c$={\tt0},\par + $d$={\tt\string\tiny@rm}, \par + $e$={\tt0pt}, $f$={\tt0pt}, \par + $g$={\tt\string\endrawlist}}% +{verbatim listing, line count from $a$, step $b$, digits $c$, +font $d$, text position $e$, numbering shift $f$, end mark $g$} + +\hruler \vskip0.5pt +\Longentry{% +$\matrix{\hbox{\tt \string\printfile + [$a$][$b$][$c$][$d$][$e$][$f$]$\{$\it file.ext$\}$}\cr + \hbox{}\cr}$}% + {\strut\par{\sl defaults:} ~~$c$={\tt6} {\it etc}}% + {verbatim listing of {\it file.ext}} + +\hruler + + + +\Longentry{% +$\left\{\matrix{ \hbox{\tt\string\beginlabels + [$a$][$b$][$c$][$d$][$e$][$f$]}\cr + \hbox{\tt\string\endlabels\hskip3cm}\cr}\right.$ }% + {\strut\par{\sl defaults:}\everypar={\hbox{\ \ \ }}\par\par + $a$={\tt 20pt}, \par $b$={\tt\string\tt\string\raggedright}, + \par $c$={\tt1}, $d$={\tt1}, \par + $e$={\tt2.6in}, $f$={\tt2em}}% + {form letters become labels: address taken from $c^{th}$ to +last parameter of $d^{th}$ group, with width $e$, indent +$f$, borderspace $a$ and font toks $b$} + +\hruler + + +\entry{{\tt\string\firstread$\{T\}$}}% + {toks $T$ will not be read if the file is re-read via {\tt + \string\labelsquit}} + + +\entry{{\tt\string\initstyle[$a$]$\{b\}\{c\}$}}% + {initiation for {\tt\string\labelsquit},with styles $a$, + documentstyle $b$ and preamble $c$} + +\entry{{\tt\string\initclass[$a$][$o$]$\{b\}\{c\}$}}% + {similar to {\tt\string\initstyle} ($o$ is \LaTeX2e options), + but retains native \LaTeX2e when applicable} + + +\hruler \vskip0.5pt +\Longentry{% +$\matrix{\hbox{\tt \string\labelsquit + [$a$][$b$][$c$][$d$][$e$][$f$]$\{$\it file.ext$\}$}\cr + \hbox{}\cr}$}% + {\strut\par{\sl defaults:}\everypar={\hbox{\ \ \ }}\par\par + see that for {\tt\string\beginlabels}} + {quit after converting letters to labels by reading the current + document or {\it file.ext}} + +\hruler + + + +\def\ABC{{\tt\esc@}{\it abc}} + + +\entry{{\tt\string\newarray\ABC}}% + {make array named {\it abc} along with + {\tt\ABC} and {\tt\string\check{\it abc}}} + + +\entry{{\tt\string\delarray\ABC}}% + {delete array named {\it abc}} + + +\hruler + + +\entry{{\tt\ABC($m$)=$\{T\}$}}% + {assign tokens $T$ to {\tt\ABC($m$)}; + {\tt\ABC($m$)} $\equiv$ + {\tt\ABC($m_1,...,m_k$)} for + $m$=$1+\sum_1^k (m_i-1)*\hbox{\tt\string\dataheight}^{k-i}$} + + +\entry{{\tt\ABC($m$)}}{value of {\tt\ABC($m$)}, + if not followed by `{\tt=}'} + + +\entry{{\tt\string\dataheight}}{current array dimension: {\it cf.} + {\tt\ABC($m$)}} + + +\entry{{\tt\string\readarray$\{N\}\{a_1 \hbox{\&}\, ..\, \hbox{\&} a_n\}$}}% + {equivalent to {\tt\esc@{\it N}(1)}=$a_1$, .., + {\tt\esc@{\it N}($n$)}=$a_n$} + + + +\entry{{\tt\string\check{\it abc}($m$)}}% + {copy {\tt\ABC($m$)} to {\tt\string\cachedata}; + set {\tt\string\ifemptydata} to true/false accordingly} + + +\hruler + +\entry{{\tt\string\readstyles$\{f_1,...,f_n\}$}}% + {read files $f_1$ to $f_n$ with default extension {\tt .sty}; + {\tt @}'s catcode set to {\tt 11} during input} + +\hruler + + +} + +\footline={\lower5pt +\hbox to \hsize + {{\rm Jiang Z ~~~{\sl Formlett: ~for letters to multiple receivers} + \hss {\sl $\bullet$End of Document$\bullet$} +\hss \folio}}} + +\vskip 8in + +%\vfill\eject +\endcolumns +\vfill\eject + + + +%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% +% MAKE EXAMPLE1.TEX EXAMPLE2.TEX +%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% + + + +\message{Can I create <example1.tex> and <example2.tex> ? (y/n) }% +\read-1 to \reply \def\nono{n }\def\Nono{N }\def\noNo{no }\def\NoNo{NO }% +\def\next{\end{document}}% +\ifx\reply\nono\else\ifx\reply\Nono\else\ifx\reply\noNo\else +\ifx\reply\NoNo\else\let\next\relax +\message{(=== YES ===)}\fi\fi\fi\fi \next + + + + +\beginfile[EndOfExample1]{example1.tex} + +% Example1: EXAMPLE for using scratch files +% under plain TeX or LaTeX +% + +\input formlett.sty +% +%%%% MAKE scr@tch@.let +% +\beginfile{scr@tch@.let} + +% letter content +\boxmore[10pt]{\hbox{\vbox{% BOX FOR BORDERLINE + +\parindent=0pt +\blockparas + +\bigskip\bigskip + +Dear \paras, + +\bigskip + +This part is typically the letter content. Since we are using a +scratch file for our main body of our letter, the letter can be +arbitrarily long, in comparison to using {\tt \string\beginletter} +and {\tt \string\endletter} mechanism. Using a scratch file enables +us to keep everything inside one single file so that it won't be mixed +up with other letters. + +\medskip + +The idea of scratch file can also be applied to creating the address +file, so that the address file can be read for the form letters in the +first time and for mailing labels in the second time. These features are +the purpose of this particular example. + +\medskip +Thanks for using {\tt formlett.sty}. + +}}} % END OF BOX FOR BORDERLINE +\vfill\eject + +\endfile + + +% +%%%% MAKE scr@tch@.adr +% +\beginfile{scr@tch@.adr} +% address file +\beginlinemode +\tt<name> +address line one +address line two +etc + +\tt<NAME> +ADDRESS LINE ONE +ADDRESS LINE TWO +ETC + +\endlinemode +\endfile + + +% +%%% MAIN PROCESSING BODY +% + +\hsize=5in +\initstyle{}{} + % Above line is put here for being + % able to run this file under either TeX or LaTeX. + % It may be deleted for TeX. It may also be replaced + % under LaTeX by \documentstyle{article} \begin{article} + % for instance + +\inputletter{scr@tch@.let} +\inputfile{scr@tch@.adr} % for form letters +\beginlabels +\inputfile{scr@tch@.adr} % for labels +\endlabels + +\end{document} + +EndOfExample1 +% above is password + + + + + + +\beginfile{example2.tex}% + +% Example2: EXAMPLE for self-read +% under plain TeX or LaTeX +% + + +\input formlett.sty +\hsize=3.2in % for plain TeX +\initstyle[]{}{\textwidth=3.2in} % for LaTeX + +% MY LOGO +% +\catcode`\@=11\relax +\def\UWS{{\vbadness=10000 \hbadness=10000 \hfuzz=\maxdimen + \vfuzz=\maxdimen \font\tiny=cmr5 \font\small=cmr7 + \def\today{\number\day\space\ifcase\month\or January\or February\or + March\or April\or May\or June\or July\or August\or September\or + October\or November\or December\fi\space\number\year}% + \def\make@temp@box{\csname newbox\endcsname \temp@box\relax}% + \ifx\temp@box\undefined \def\next{\make@temp@box}\else\def\next{}\fi\next + \font\HUGE=cmss10 at 24.87999pt \noindent + \setbox\temp@box=\hbox{\vbox to 0pt{\hbox{\HUGE + U\hskip6pt W\hskip6pt S}}}% + \def\buffdim{65pt}%\wd\temp@box 61.588pt + \rlap{\copy\temp@box}% + \rlap{\hskip.4pt\copy\temp@box}% + \rlap{\hskip.8pt\copy\temp@box}% + \rlap{\hskip1.2pt\copy\temp@box}% + \rlap{\hskip1.6pt\copy\temp@box}% + \rlap{\hskip2pt\copy\temp@box}% + \rlap{\hskip2.4pt\copy\temp@box}% + \rlap{\hskip2.8pt\copy\temp@box}% + \rlap{\hskip6pt\copy\temp@box}% + \rlap{\lower23pt \hbox to \buffdim{\tiny \hskip4pt The ~~~University~~~ Of}}% + \rlap{\lower25pt \hbox{\hskip2pt + \hbox to \buffdim{\vrule width \buffdim depth .2pt}}}% + \rlap{\lower32pt \hbox to \buffdim{\small \hskip-1pt WESTERN SYDNEY}}% + \setbox\temp@box=\hbox{\vbox{\let\noindent=\hfill + \font\small=cmss8 \baselineskip=8pt %plus 0.5pt minus 0.5pt + \small \parskip=0pt + \noindent School of Computing and IT\par + \noindent University of Western Sydney\par + \noindent Victoria Road, Parramatta\par + \noindent NSW 2150, Australia\par + \medskip + \noindent Email: ~z.jiang@uws.edu.au\par + \noindent Tel: ~(INT-) 61- 2- 96859336\par + \noindent Fax: ~(INT-) 61- 2- 96859245\par + \medskip\bigskip + \noindent \tt\today}}% + \rlap{\lower3.0cm \hbox{\box\temp@box}}% +}\par}\catcode`\@=12\relax +% + +\beginletter +\paranames % optional + \tt<<FULL NAME>>;% + \tt<<ADDRESS-etc>>;% + +\tt<<GIVEN NAME>>;% + \tt<<MISSING ITEM>>;% + \tt<<PHONE NUMBER>>! +\loaddefaultparas % optional + +\NOPAGENUMBERS\parindent=0pt\overfullrule=0pt +\UWS \par\bigskip\bigskip\bigskip +\noindent{\it\paras[1]}\par +\blockparas[2]\par\bigskip + +Dear \paras[1][2],\par\medskip +We have been looking for +\paras[2][2] for quite a while +without any luck, could you help +us out? If so, please ring +\paras[3][2]. \par\medskip +Cheers!\hfill Zhuhan\vfill\eject +\endletter +\preview \showparas +\eject % \eject here is purely for better labels + + +\paradefaults % optional + To whom this may concern + +Sir or Madam;something;% + 061-225-9905! + + +\blockmarks +\beginblockmode + +Mrs L Stenson +\#1-20 Sunset Street +Hillside, Norway +------ separate groups +Louise +a Bible +220-8888 +========= separate cluster + +...... force entry next line + +Above empty line active + +\endblockmode comment ignored + +\defaultmarks +\moreletter + S Wales,;% + \addressbox[2in][1em]{University of Manchester Institute + of Science and Technology, This is + a long address line: it will be + wrapped up automatically.} + +;a \TeX\ package \gstr\ manual and + many more (\cstr)! + +\beginlinemode + S Pan + UNE, Arimdale + + T Ribbons + UMIST, Manchester +\endlinemode + +\beginpilemode + + C Anderson;42nd Street;USA+Christine;your service invoice! + + D Holmes;Flat \#2, Finneybank Rd;London+David;the tax receipt;% + 071-902 7799! + +\endpilemode + +\begindatamode{3} % strictly 3 lines for one letter +data-#1 +data-#2 +data-#3 +data-#4 +data-#5 +\enddatamode + +\ifISLATEX \firstread{\global\textwidth=6in} +\else \firstread{\hsize=6in}\fi % make labels double columns + +\labelsquit{} +\end{document} % redundant +\endfile + + + +\message{Now go and TeX or LaTeX <example1.tex> and <example2.tex>}% + + +\end{document} +% +% +% +%ENDDOCUMENT + + + diff --git a/Master/texmf-dist/doc/latex/formlett/user_manual.tex b/Master/texmf-dist/doc/latex/formlett/user_manual.tex new file mode 100644 index 00000000000..b3178484776 --- /dev/null +++ b/Master/texmf-dist/doc/latex/formlett/user_manual.tex @@ -0,0 +1,1113 @@ +% USER MANUAL in Plain TeX + +\input formlett.sty + +% FONTS +\font\hbold=cmbx10 at 17.28pt +\font\lbold=cmbx10 at 14.4pt +\font\bbold=cmbx10 at 12pt +\font\small=cmr8 +\font\tiny=cmr5 +\font\stt=cmtt9 +\catcode`\@=11\relax +% +% +% +% OTHER MACROS +% +\catcode`\~=11\relax \def\t{{\tt ~}} +\catcode`\~=\active\relax +\catcode`\!=0\relax !catcode`!\=11!relax +!def!esc{\}!def!escs{\! } +!catcode`!\=0!relax \catcode`\!=12\relax +\def\rqs{\rq\ } +\def\LaTeX{{\rm L\kern-.36em\raise.3ex\hbox{\font\sc=cmcsc10\sc a}\kern-.15em + T\kern-.1667em\lower.7ex\hbox{E}\kern-.125emX}} + +% makeshift macro +\catcode`\^^M=13\relax% +\def\setraw{\bgroup\rm@ligature\set@space\set@tab% +\set@cr\stt\raw@chars[11][13][13][13][13]\def^^M{\strut\par}\setraw@@}% +\edef\temp@macro{% + \noexpand\long\noexpand\def\noexpand\setraw@@\noexpand##1^^M##2% + \esc@ unsetraw{##1##2\noexpand\egroup}}\temp@macro % +\catcode`\^^M=5\relax% + + +\font\ninerm=cmr9 \font\eightrm=cmr8 +\font\ninei=cmmi9 \font\eighti=cmmi8 +\font\ninesy=cmsy9 \font\eightsy=cmsy8 +\font\ninebf=cmbx9 \font\eightbf=cmbx8 +\font\ninett=cmtt9 \font\eighttt=cmtt8 +\font\nineit=cmti9 \font\eightit=cmti8 +\font\ninesl=cmsl9 \font\eightsl=cmsl8 + +\font\sixrm=cmr6 +\font\sixi=cmmi6 +\font\sixsy=cmsy6 +\font\sixbf=cmbx6 + +\skewchar\ninei='177 \skewchar\eighti='177 \skewchar\sixi='177 +\skewchar\ninesy='60 \skewchar\eightsy='60 \skewchar\sixsy='60 +\hyphenchar\ninett=-1 \hyphenchar\eighttt=-1 \hyphenchar\tentt=-1 + +\font\tentex=cmtex10 +\font\inchhigh=cminch +\font\titlefont=cmssdc10 at 40pt % titles in chapter openings +\font\eightss=cmssq8 % quotations in chapter closings +\font\eightssi=cmssqi8 % ditto, slanted +\font\tenu=cmu10 % unslanted te~t italic +\font\manual=manfnt % METAFONT logo and special symbols +\font\magnifiedfiverm=cmr5 at 10pt % to demonstrate magnification + +\newskip\ttglue +\def\eightpoint{\def\rm{\fam0\eightrm}% switch to 8-point type + \textfont0=\eightrm \scriptfont0=\sixrm \scriptscriptfont0=\fiverm + \textfont1=\eighti \scriptfont1=\sixi \scriptscriptfont1=\fivei + \textfont2=\eightsy \scriptfont2=\sixsy \scriptscriptfont2=\fivesy + \textfont3=\tenex \scriptfont3=\tenex \scriptscriptfont3=\tenex + \textfont\itfam=\eightit \def\it{\fam\itfam\eightit}% + \textfont\slfam=\eightsl \def\sl{\fam\slfam\eightsl}% + \textfont\ttfam=\eighttt \def\tt{\fam\ttfam\eighttt}% + \textfont\bffam=\eightbf \scriptfont\bffam=\sixbf + \scriptscriptfont\bffam=\fivebf \def\bf{\fam\bffam\eightbf}%, + \tt \ttglue=.5em plus.25em minus.15em + \normalbaselineskip=9pt + \setbox\strutbox=\hbox{\vrule height7pt depth2pt width0pt}% + \let\sc=\sixrm \let\big=\eightbig \normalbaselines\rm} + + +%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% +%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% +% +% END OF EXTRA MACROS AND FONTS +% +%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% +%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% + + + + +\catcode`\@=11\relax +\PAGENO=1 +\voffset=-0.3in + + +\ifx\pageno\undefined +\errmessage{Please run TeX if you want this article on how to use +<formlett.sty> to be processed as well!} +\fi + + +\parindent=0pt +\hsize=469.75499pt % the default +\vsize=9.6in %8.83in + +\def\makefootline{\baselineskip=24pt \line{\the\footline}} +\footline={\lower5pt +\hbox to \hsize + {{\tenrm Jiang Z ~~~{\tensl Mail merge with the use of formlett.sty} +\hss \folio}}} + +\leftline{\hbold Mail merge with the use of formlett.sty} +\bigskip + + +{\advance\leftskip by13mm \overfullrule=0pt +\advance\rightskip by 20mm %28mm +\sl +\noindent Zhuhan JIANG\par +\noindent School of Computing and Information Technology, + University of Western Sydney, Victoria Road, Parramatta NSW 2150, Australia. +{\sl ~~Email}:~z.jiang@uws.edu.au\par +\medskip +\rm\smooth +\noindent (Last updated on 26 May 2003)\par +\medskip + +\noindent +In this article, the author explains how to use a form-letter or mail +merge style {\tt formlett.sty}, designed for plain \TeX\space and +\LaTeX\space or \LaTeX2e. {\tt formlett.sty} supports different +parameter input methods, parameter naming and defaulting mechanism, as +well as facilities for previewing parameter positions and printing +labels. It is written for the purpose of being powerful, robust and +above all easy to use.\par } + + +\begincolumns + +{\lbold Introduction} + +\smallskip + +Our purpose here is to describe a comprehensive implementation of a +macro system, handling form letters or mail merge under plain \TeX\space +or \LaTeX\space2.09 or \LaTeX2e. The main objective is to provide an +easy way to output many form letters with their own parameters, with or +without the use of multiple files. There will be a coherent and simple +format for putting parameters inside a form letter, with a number of +helping facilities for such as naming parameters and previewing their +positions. A minimum support for printing mailing labels is also +provided. + + +\medskip + +The concept of macros [1] for form letters is not new: there already +exist macros in this connection such as {\tt merge}, {\tt textmerg} and +{\tt address} to name a few, see [2,3] for further details. Our stress +here is therefore laid on the ease to use, along with the power and the +robustness of the macros. + +\bigskip + + +{\lbold Basic format} + + +%%%%%%%%%%%% +% letter top +%%%%%%%%%%%% + + \beginletter +\sl +\hsize=3.1in\relax +\medskip + \paranames % optional + \tt<<FULL NAME>>;% + \tt<<ADDRESS-01>>;% + \tt<<ADDRESS-02>>;% + \tt<<GIVEN NAME>>;% + \tt<<MISSING ITEM>>;% + \tt<<PHONE NUMBER>>! + \loaddefaultparas % optional + + \NOPAGENUMBERS\parindent=0pt\overfullrule=0pt + \paras[1]\par\paras[2]\par\paras[3]\par\medskip + + Dear \paras[4], + + \smallskip + We have been looking for + \paras[5] for quite a while + without any luck, could you help + us out? If so, please ring + \paras[6]. \par\medskip + Cheers!\hfill Michael\par %\vfill\eject +\medskip + \endletter + +%%%%%%%%%%%% +% letter end +%%%%%%%%%%%% + + +Suppose we would like to write a form letter for mail merge in the +following form + +\showparas + +where the text inside the double arrow brackets are to be replaced by +the parameters specific to each individual letter. If we number these +parameters one by one in a single group, then the letter template will +be organised as + +\preview + +and we need just 6 parameters to personalise an individual letter. A +simplest example of supplying a set or a {\sl cluster} of these +parameters to output a merged form letter is to use + +\setraw +\moreletter + Mrs L Stenson;\#1-20 Sunset Street;% + Hills, Norway;Louise;a Bible;220-8888! +\unsetraw + +For more letters to be merged this way, just use again the +command {\tt\string\moreletter} in the above format, in which each +parameter is separated by a semicolon `{\tt ;}' and the whole parameter +cluster is ended by an exclamation mark `{\tt !}'. The actual code in +\LaTeX\space for making the above form letter, along with an extra +merged letter, may read as follows + + +\edef\setrawcount{\stt\noexpand + \beginrawlist[][][4][][][3.3in]{\esc@ unsetraw}} + +\linecount=1\relax +\setrawcount + \documentstyle[formlett]{article} + \begin{document} + \beginletter + \NOPAGENUMBERS\parindent=0pt + \paras[1]\par\paras[2]\par + \paras[3]\par\medskip + Dear \paras[4], \par\medskip + We have been looking for + \paras[5] for quite a while + without any luck, could you help + us out? If so, please ring + \paras[6]. \par\medskip + Cheers!\hfill Michael\vfill\eject + \endletter + + \moreletter % letter one + Mrs L Stenson;\#1-20 Sunset Street;% + Hills, Norway;Louise;a Bible;220-8888! + \moreletter % letter two + S Wales;UMIST;Manchester;Sir or Madam;% + a \TeX\ package{+}manual;225-9905! + \end{document} +\unsetraw +\rm + +The line numbers in the above and later on are for quick reference only: +they are not a part of the program code. The letter template in lines +4-13 is defined by the {\tt\string\beginletter} and {\tt\string\endletter} +pair in line 3 and line 14, with each use of {\tt\string\moreletter} +generating a new merged letter. We note that command {\tt \string\paras[{\it +m}]} represents the $m^{th}$ merged parameter (of the first group, see +later), and the command {\tt\string\NOPAGENUMBERS} +will remove the page numbering for both \LaTeX\space and plain +\TeX. We also note that if one replaces lines 1-2 by +{\tt\string\input\space formlett.sty}, then the program will be +compilable under plain \TeX\space as well. + + +\medskip + +Although the mail merge mechanism in the above will be sufficient for +most simple applications, {\tt formlett} provides in fact many more +features. We shall thus in the followings introduce the main features +one by one, from the most useful to the less likely encountered. + +\medskip + +To start with, we notice that in the above example there are exactly two +parameters to be used for the address. This is inconvenient to say the +least, even if we allocate say three more extra parameters for the +purpose. This naturally calls for the separation of the whole {\sl +cluster} of parameters into several {\sl groups}, so that the numbering +of the parameters in every group will be resynchronised. We thus use +{\tt\string\paras[{\it m}][{\it n}]} to denote the $m^{th}$ parameter of +the $n^{th}$ group of a whole cluster of merging parameters. In fact we +may use {\tt\string\blockparas[{\it m}][{\it n}][{\it pre}][{\it post}]} +to represent parameters in the $n^{th}$ group, from the $m^{th}$ to the +last parameter of that group, where the tokens denoted by {\it pre} and +{\it post} are those to be added in front and behind respectively each +of the legitimate parameters. The defaults for {\it pre} and {\it post} +are {\tt\string\noindent} and {\tt\string\par} respectively. It is +therefore more sensible to specify the merging parameters of the earlier +example via + + +%%%%%%%%%%%% +% letter top +%%%%%%%%%%%% + + \beginletter +\sl +\hsize=3.1in\relax +\medskip + \paranames % optional + \tt<<FULL NAME>>\hfill + \tiny\fillzeros[4]\linecount\global\advance\linecount1\relax\par;% + \tt<<ADDRESS-etc>>\hfill + \tiny\fillzeros[4]\linecount\global\advance\linecount1\relax\par;% + +\tt<<GIVEN NAME>>;% + \tt<<MISSING ITEM>>;% + \tt<<PHONE NUMBER>>! + \loaddefaultparas % optional + + \NOPAGENUMBERS\parindent=0pt\overfullrule=0pt + \noindent{\it\paras[1]}\par + \blockparas[2]\par\medskip + + Dear \paras[1][2], + + \smallskip + We have been looking for + \paras[2][2] for quite a while + without any luck, could you help + us out? If so, please ring + \paras[3][2]. \par\medskip + Cheers!\hfill Michael\par %\vfill\eject +\medskip + \endletter + +%%%%%%%%%%%% +% letter end +%%%%%%%%%%%% + +\showparas + +where {\tt <<ADDRESS-etc>>} will be produced by +{\tt\string\blockparas[2][1]}, i.e. all the parameters of the first +group, starting from the 2nd parameter. We note that the missing +square-bracketed macro parameters for {\tt\string\blockparas} are +automatically provided: in fact macro parameters in {\tt formlett} are +systematically defaulted. Hence for example, {\tt \string\paras[1][1]} +is equivalent to any of the following commands + +\setraw + \paras, \paras[1], \paras[][1], + \paras[1][], \paras[][] +\unsetraw + +As for the more precise position of the merging parameters, they can +always be viewed via the command {\tt\string\preview}, which in this +case gives the following positioning + +\preview + +This way, the mail merge for the above letter template can also be done +(in plain \TeX) in the following more flexible way + +\setrawcount + \input formlett.sty + \beginletter + \NOPAGENUMBERS\parindent=0pt + \noindent{\it\paras[1]}\par + \blockparas[2]\par\bigskip + Dear \paras[1][2],\par\medskip + We have been looking for + \paras[2][2] for quite a while + without any luck, could you help + us out? If so, please ring + \paras[3][2]. \par\medskip + Cheers!\hfill Michael\vfill\eject + \endletter \preview + + \beginpilemode + Mrs L Stenson;\#1-20 Sunset Street + Hills, Norway+Louise;a Bible;220-8888! + + S Wales;UMIST;Manchester+% + Sir or Madam;a \TeX\space + package{+}manual;225-9905! + \endpilemode + \end +\unsetraw +\rm + + +We note that by default we used plus sign `{\tt +}' to separate +different groups inside a cluster of parameters, and each cluster inside +a {\tt\string\beginpilemode} and {\tt\string\endpilemode} pair will +output a merged letter, as if it were produced by command +{\tt\string\moreletter} followed by that cluster of parameters. +The output of the first merged letter in fact reads + +\moreletter + Mrs L Stenson;\#1-20 Sunset Street + Hills, Norway+Louise;a Bible;220-8888! + + +\medskip + +It is often desirable to supply parameters line by line, i.e. one line +as one parameter. Hence the two merged letters produced by lines 25-47 +can also be made by replacing the content included in the +{\tt\string\beginpilemode} and {\tt\string\endpilemode} pair (lines +39-46) by the following new code + +\setrawcount +\blockmarks +\beginblockmode +Mrs L Stenson +\#1-20 Sunset Street +Hills, Norway +----- +Louise +a Bible +220-8888 +====== + +S Wales +UMIST +Manchester +---- +Sir or Madam +a \TeX\ package+manual +225-9905 +==== +\endblockmode +\defaultmarks +\unsetraw +\rm + +where obviously we have used lines with `{\tt----}' to separate groups +and used lines with `{\tt====}' to end a cluster of parameters. This was +done by the use of {\tt\string\blockmarks} which changes the group +delimiter `{\tt +}' and cluster delimiter `{\tt !}' into the above two +new ones, with the {\tt\string\defaultmarks} at the end setting them +back. If the whole cluster of parameters are categorised into a single +(first) group, then we may even use a block of consecutive nonempty +lines to provide the merging parameters. This is done by the use of +command pair {\tt\string\beginlinemode} and {\tt\string\endlinemode}. +Hence we may also conduct the above mail merge in for instance \LaTeX2e +by + + +\setrawcount +\documentclass{article} +\usepackage{formlett} +\begin{document} + \beginletter + \NOPAGENUMBERS\parindent=0pt + \paras[4]\par\blockparas[5] + \par\medskip + Dear \paras[1], \par\medskip + We have been looking for + \paras[2] for quite a while + without any luck, could you help + us out? If so, please ring + \paras[3]. \par\medskip + Cheers!\hfill Michael\vfill\eject + \endletter + +\beginlinemode +Louise +a Bible +220-8888 +Mrs L Stenson +\#1-20 Sunset Street +Hills, Norway + +Sir or Madam +a \TeX\ package+manual +225-9905 +S Wales +UMIST +Manchester +\endlinemode +\end{document} +\unsetraw +\rm + +Notice that we have changed the numbering order of the parameters so +that the number of address lines output by {\tt\string\blockparas} is +more flexible. + + +\bigskip +{\lbold Advanced features} + +The advanced features to be discussed below are mainly for the purpose +of (i) writing {\sl long} form letter; (ii) making {\sl many} different +form letters; (iii) reading mail merge parameters that are in {\sl +crude} ASCII form; and (iv) generating mail labels. + +\medskip + +It is in general better to keep the letter template, i.e. the content +between {\tt\string\beginletter} and {\tt\string\endletter} like those +in lines 4-13, in a separate file, say {\tt myletter.let}, and use +{\tt\string\inputletter$\{$myletter.let$\}$} to load in the letter +template. The advantage of this over the previously used method is that +the letter template can now be arbitrarily large without any risks of +causing computer memory problem. + +\medskip + +Suppose we have a collection of letter templates, we may wish to remind +ourselves what each parameter represents. For this purpose, we may add +at the top of the letter template a command {\tt\string\paranames} {\it +cluster}{\tt !}, where {\it cluster} is a cluster of parameters each +giving a name to the corresponding parameter. Command +{\tt\string\paranames} takes its macro parameters in the same way +{\tt\string\moreletter} does. After a letter template is read in, +command {\tt\string\showparas} will output a form letter with its +parameters replaced by the corresponding names. The mainly italic +passage containing lines 23-24, for instance, is the output of +{\tt\string\showparas} for the letter template in lines 102-109 given +explicitly later on. + +\medskip + +We may also use {\tt\string\paradefaults} {\it cluster}{\tt !} to +provide default parameters, i.e. the parameters to replace the empty or +not entered ones, and use {\tt\string \loaddefaultparas} inside letter +template to activate the parameter defaulting. We note that in general +commands {\tt\string\paranames} and {\tt\string\loaddefaultparas}, if +present, should be at the top of the letter template, with +{\tt\string\loaddefaultparas} below the command {\tt\string\paranames}. +Hence for our previous mail merge, we may re-do it via + + +\setrawcount + \input formlett.sty + \beginletter + \paranames % optional + \tt<<FULL NAME>>;\tt<<ADDRESS-etc>>;% + +\tt<<GIVEN NAME>>;\tt<<MISSING ITEM>>;% + \tt<<PHONE NUMBER>>! + \loaddefaultparas % optional +\unsetraw + +\ \ \ {\it $\{$letter details given in lines 27-36$\}$} +\hfill{\tiny\fillzeros[4]\linecount\global\advance\linecount1\relax} + +\setrawcount + \endletter + \preview \showparas + + \paradefaults % optional + To whom this may concern + +Sir or Madam;something;% + 061-225-9905! + +\blockmarks +\beginrawblockmode{} +Mrs L Stenson +#1-20 Sunset Street +Hills, Norway +------ +Louise +a Bible +220-8888 +========= + +...... + +Above empty line active +\endrawblockmode +\defaultmarks +\end{document} +\unsetraw +\rm + +We note that in {\sl blockmode} with {\tt\string\blockmarks}, a line +with `{\tt ....}' marks the immediate start of a parameter block, +whether or not the lines immediately following it are empty or not. Also +that in {\it rawblockmode} enclosed by {\tt\string \beginrawblockmode} +and {\tt\string\endrawblockmode}, all characters are input in their +original ASCII form. In other words, the special characters for +\TeX\space will be ignored here. + +\medskip + +If the merging parameters are given by exactly $m$ lines per cluster, as +is often the case when they are produced by a database utility, then we +may use the {\tt\string\begindatamode} and {\tt\string\enddatamode} pair +to mark the beginning and the end of the merging parameters. For more +details, see the Appendix at the end. + +\medskip + +We may keep the letter template and the merging parameters in two +separate files. For instance, if we save lines 103-108 to file {\tt +myletter.let}, lines 39-46 or lines 48-68 to file {\tt myletter.adr}, +then we can produce via \LaTeX\ the mail merge by + +\setrawcount + \documentstyle[formlett]{article} + \begin{document} + \inputletter{myletter.let} + \showparas \preview % utility demo + \paradefaults To whom it may concern! + \inputfile{myletter.adr} + \beginlabels % 1st group as address + \inputfile{myletter.adr} % for labels + \endlabels + \end{document} +\unsetraw +\rm + +where the lines 140-142 will generate the address labels using the first +group (as is intended here) of parameters. More precise format of +{\tt\string\beginlabels} and etc can be found in the Appendix. + +\medskip + +Another way of making labels, if no separate files for the parameters +are present, is to re-read the document itself and make labels instead +of merged form letters in the second reading. We may thus use {\tt +\string\input \ formlett.sty \string\initstyle\ [{\it styles}]$\{${\tt +article}$\}\{${\it preamble}$\}$} to replace {\tt \string\documentstyle\ +[formlett, {\it styles}]$\{$article$\}$ {\it preamble} +\string\begin$\{$document$\}$}, which will be valid for \LaTeX\ but +ignored for \TeX\ , and will enable one to use {\tt \string\labelsquit} +at the end to read in the current document again with all the letters +there converted into the corresponding labels. Though +{\tt\string\initstyle} is valid for plain \TeX, \LaTeX2.09 as well as +\LaTeX2e, {\tt\string\initclass} will generate +{\tt\string\documentclass} instead of {\tt\string\documentstyle} when +\LaTeX2e is the processing environment. If you only want to execute +certain commands the first time round (i.e. before {\tt +\string\labelsquit} re-reads the file again), use {\tt +\string\firstread$\{${\it commands}$\}$} for this purpose. For more +detailed use and examples, read the {\sl programmer's document} attached +to the style file {\tt formlett.sty} and the example files it generates. +In fact, many details and extra features that are not contained in this +article may be found there. + +\medskip + +We already noted that if a form letter is large, we have to use +{\tt\string\inputletter} to load in the template. However, it is often +still desirable to keep everything inside a single file, while allowing +it to make new (scratch) files when it is being compiled. We may thus +use for example + +\setraw + \beginfile{myletter.let} +\unsetraw + +\ \ \ {\it $\{$letter template of lines 103-108$\}$} + +\setraw + \endfile +\unsetraw +\rm + +to create a letter template file {\tt myletter.let}. Likewise, the +merging parameters can be saved to another run-time created file {\tt +myletter.adr}. + + +\medskip + +We have so far only used the default delimiters `{\tt ;}', `{\tt +}' and +`{\tt !}' to separate single, group and cluster of parameters, with +temporary change via {\tt\string\blockmarks} to `{\tt ....}', `{\tt +----}' and `{\tt ====}' respectively. However we may change the +delimiters to any characters by {\tt +\string\delimiters$\{S\}\{G\}\{C\}$}, where $S$, $G$ and $C$ are the +tokens to delimit single, group and cluster of parameters respectively, +and change the delimiters back to the default by +{\tt\string\defaultmarks} or equivalently by +{\tt\string\delimiters$\{$;$\}\{$+$\}\{$!$\}$}. + +\medskip + + +To conclude this section, let us finally look below at an `ideal' and +`finished' mail merge application code,. It is currently in a form +compilable under \LaTeX2e, and is also valid for plain \TeX\space if the +first three lines (lines 144-146) are removed. + +\setrawcount +\documentclass{article} +\usepackage{formlett} % LaTeX2e +\begin{document} + +%%%% MAKE file scr@tch@.let +\beginfile{scr@tch@.let} % letter content +\paranames <<name>>;<<address>>+<<items>>! +\loaddefaultparas +\parindent=0pt\blockparas\bigskip\bigskip +Dear \paras, \par\bigskip +This part is typically the letter content. +It now displays all the items in the 2nd +parameter group. They are \par +\blockparas[][2] \vfill\eject +\endfile + +%%%% MAKE file scr@tch@.adr +\beginfile{scr@tch@.adr} % address file +\blockmarks +\beginblockmode +T Teng +UMIST +Manchester M60 1QD +===== + +Z Jiang +UNE +Armidale NSW 2351 +Australia +------ +Email: zhuhan@neumann.une.edu.au +===== +\endblockmode +\defaultmarks +\endfile + +% MAIN BODY +\paradefaults To Whom It May Concern + +No further info available{!}! +\inputletter{scr@tch@.let} +\inputfile{scr@tch@.adr}% for letters +\beginlabels +\inputfile{scr@tch@.adr}% for labels +\endlabels +\end{document} +\unsetraw +\rm + +We note that if we replace lines 144-146 by {\tt\string\input\space +formlett.sty \string\initstyle$\{\}\{\}$}, then the mail merge can be +processed by either plain \TeX\space or \LaTeX\space (including +\LaTeX2e). It is likewise if {\tt\string\initstyle} in the replaced +line is replaced furthermore by {\tt\string\initclass}, except that now +the native \LaTeX2e environment is preserved, when applicable, rather +than turning it into the compatibility mode of \LaTeX2.09. + +\bigskip +{\lbold Programmer's tips} + +\smallskip + +First we note that all the macro parameters that are to appear inside +square brackets of {\tt formlett}'s commands are defaulted, just like +how {\tt\string\paras[$m$][$n$]} is defaulted earlier on. The actual +default values can be found in the Appendix. + +\medskip + +For those wizard users who want to do everything their own way, we point +out that if for instance the 3rd letter parameter of the 2nd group of a +cluster is given as {\tt<A>}, then {\tt \string\LET2*3\t} will contain +{\tt \string\b@group \string\relax {\tt<A>}\string\e@group} right after +a cluster is read in. {\tt \string\DEF2*3\string~}, on the other hand, +contains the corresponding default parameter in the same fashion. +Furthermore, the command {\tt\string\checkparas[$m$][$n$]$\{$LET$\}$} +will copy the content of {\tt\string\paras[$m$][$n$]}, minus the +`wrapping' extra tokens {\tt\string\b@group\string\relax} and +{\tt\string\e@group}, to {\tt\string\cachedata} and set +{\tt\string\ifemptyparas} to true or false depending on whether the +content is empty or not. This way, a user may even change the +characteristics of his letter template by first testing the content of +the supplied individual parameters. However, we note that if {\tt\string +\loaddefaultparas} is executed, then the {\tt LET} array, when some of +its elements are not supplied, will contain the corresponding elements +of the {\tt DEF} array. Hence care must be exercised under such +circumstances, when interpreting the {\tt\string\cachedata} generated by +{\tt\string\checkparas[$m$][$n$]$\{$LET$\}$}. If necessary, we may use +{\tt\string\delparadefaults} to delete current default parameter array +{\tt DEF} so as to conduct {\tt\string\checkparas$\{$LET$\}$} more +precisely. + +\medskip + +There are also a number of generic macro utilities in {\tt formlett}, +including a user stack and a multi-dimensional array mechanism. + +\medskip + +{\tt formlett} was written for all \TeX\space dialects, its format is +thus more close to that of plain \TeX. In fact, we deliberately avoided +mixing up {\tt formlett} with the standard letter environment of \LaTeX. +This is largely due to the fact that the limited facilities of +\LaTeX\space letter environment are easy to come by anyway, and are not +really worth writing buckled code to make {\tt formlett} a type of +extension of the environment. Nevertheless, one can still use the letter +environment of \LaTeX\space inside the form letter template. Besides, +the applicability of {\tt formlett} is not restricted for making form +{\sl letters}; it can also be used to merge other type of articles or +passages. + + + + +\bigskip +{\lbold References} + +\smallskip +{\parindent=2em +\item{[1].} Knuth D E, {\sl The \TeX book}, Reading, Mass., +Addison-Wesley, 1992. \par +\item{[2].} Piff M, Text merges in \TeX\ and \LaTeX, {\sl TUGboad}, +13(4):518, 1993. \par +\item{[3].} Damrau J and Wester M, Form letters with 3-across +labels capacity, {\sl TUGboat}, 13(4):510, 1991. +\par +} + + + + +\penalty -50\bigskip + +{\lbold Appendix} + + + +\smallskip + + +In the followings, we give a brief summary of the main commands given by +{\tt formlett} version 2.1. + +\medskip + +Let $m$ and $n$ be numbers, $p$, $q$ and $r$ be dimensions, $A$, +$B$, $S$, $G$, $C$ and $T$ be tokens, and $X$ be a box. +Furthermore, we shall denote by $R$ a full set of letter +parameters ended by \lq{\tt !}\rq, with \lq{\tt;}\rqs separating +parameters inside a same group and \lq{\tt+}\rqs separating +different parameter groups. We moreover denote $R$ by $F$, when +\lq{\tt ; + !}\rqs there can be replaced by \lq$S$ $G$ $C$\rqs +respectively if {\tt \string\delimiters$\{S\}\{G\}\{C\}$} is +issued. In the commands tabulated below, the macro parameters +contained in squared brackets support default. In particular, the +defaults are $m$={\tt 1}, $n$={\tt 1}, $p$={\tt 8truecm}, +$q$={\tt 1.5em}, $r$={\tt 3pt}, $A$={\tt\string\noindent} and +$B$={\tt\string\par}. + + + +\newdimen\tempdimone +\newdimen\tempdimtwo +\tempdimone=\hsize +\advance\tempdimone by-0.2pt +\tempdimtwo=\hsize +\advance\tempdimtwo by-1.8in +\def\hruler{\hrule width \tempdimone} +\long\def\entry#1#2{% +\par\hbox to \tempdimone{\noindent + \vrule~\textbox[1.7in]{#1}~\hss + \vrule~\textbox[\tempdimtwo]{\raggedright#2}~\vrule}% + \par} + +\long\def\longentry#1#2#3{% +\par\hbox to \tempdimone{\noindent + \vrule~\textbox[3in]{#1}~\hss~\vrule}\par + {\kern-8pt \advance\tempdimtwo0.10in + \vrule width1.7in height0pt \vrule width\tempdimtwo height 0.4pt \par + \kern-3pt} + \entry{#2}{#3}} + +\long\def\Longentry#1#2#3{% +\par\hbox to \tempdimone{\noindent + \vrule~\textbox[3in]{#1}~\hss~\vrule}\par + {\advance\tempdimtwo0.08in\kern-1pt + \vrule~\hfill\vrule width \tempdimtwo height 0.4pt \vrule\par + \kern-2.5pt}% + \entry{#2}{#3}} + + + +\bigskip %\bigskip +\penalty-1000 \vskip 0pt plus4in + +{\eightpoint +\nointerlineskip\parskip=0pt + +\hruler +\entry{{\tt\string\paras[$m$][$n$]}}% + {$m^{th}$ parameter of $n^{th}$ group }% + +\entry{{\tt\string\blockparas[$m$][$n$][$A$][$B$]}}% + {$m^{th}$ to the last parameter of $n^{th}$ group, each +preceded by $A$ and followed by $B$, wrapped by $\{$\penalty +1000$\}$ if +$B$={\tt\string\relax}} + +\entry{{\tt\string\addressparas[$m$][$n$][$p$][$q$]}}% + {$m^{th}$ to the last parameter of $n^{th}$ group, each put +into a box of width $p$ with indent $q$ for wrapped portions} + + +\entry{{\tt\string\loaddefaultparas}}% + {fill empty parameters with defaults} + +%\hruler \penalty-1000 +\hruler + + +\entry{{\tt\string\checkparas[$m$][$n$]$\{T\}$}}% + {$m^{th}$ parameter of $n^{th}$ group copied to {\tt\string\cachedata}; + {\tt\string\ifemptyparas} is true if element is empty; $T$ is often + {\tt LET} or {\tt DEF}}% + + +\hruler + + +\entry{{\tt\string\moreletter\ $F$}}% + {use parameters $F$ to output a new letter} + + +\entry{{\tt\string\paranames\ $R$}}% + {use $R$ as parameter names} + +\entry{{\tt\string\paradefaults\ $R$}}% + {use $R$ as default parameters} + +\entry{{\tt\string\delparadefaults}}% + {delete default parameters} + +\hruler + + +\entry{{\tt\string\delimiters$\{S\}\{G\}\{C\}$}}% + {use $S$, $G$, $C$ as delimiters} + + +\entry{{\tt\string\defaultmarks}}% + {use \lq{\tt ; + !}\rqs as delimiters} + + +\entry{{\tt\string\blockmarks}}% + {use \lq{\tt ....}\rq, \lq{\tt ----}\rq, \lq{\tt ====}\rqs as delimiters} + +%\hruler \penalty -1000 +\hruler + +\entry{{\tt\string\preview}}% + {highlight parameter positions} + +\entry{{\tt\string\showparas}}% + {display parameter names, if any} + +\hruler + + +\entry{% +$\left\{\matrix{ \hbox{\tt\string\beginfile[$T$]$\{{\it +file.ext}\}$}\cr +\hbox{\tt\string\endfile\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ }\cr}\right.$\par + \ \ \ {\tiny }}% + {write text verbatim to file {\it file.ext} (empty implies {\tt +scr@tch@.tex}), nonempty $T$ replaces {\tt +\string\endfile} to mark last full line} + + + +\entry{{\tt\string\inputletter$\{file.ext\}$}}% + {input letter content} + +\entry{{\tt\string\inputfile$\{file.ext\}$}}% + {input $file.ext$} + +\hruler \penalty -5000 %\vskip0pt plus 1cm +\hruler + + +\entry{% +$\left\{\matrix{ \hbox{\tt\string\beginletter}\cr +\hbox{\tt\string\endletter~~}\cr}\right.$ }% + {delimiters for letter content (template)} + +\entry{% +$\left\{\matrix{ \hbox{\tt\string\beginpilemode}\cr +\hbox{\tt\string\endpilemode~~}\cr}\right.$ }% + {normal letter parameters cluster-wise} + + +\entry{% +$\left\{\matrix{ \hbox{\tt\string\beginblockmode}\cr +\hbox{\tt\string\endblockmode~~}\cr}\right.$ }% + {for line-by-line blocks of parameters, empty lines active +within each cluster} + + +\entry{% +$\left\{\matrix{ \hbox{\tt\string\beginlinemode}\cr +\hbox{\tt\string\endlinemode~~}\cr}\right.$ }% + {for line-by-line parameters, empty lines delimit clusters} + +\hruler \penalty-1000 +%\hruler + +\entry{% +$\left\{\matrix{ \hbox{\tt\string\beginrawblockmode$\{T\}$}\cr +\hbox{\tt\string\endrawblockmode\ \ \ \ \ }\cr}\right.$ }% + {raw text mode; nonempty $T$ replaces {\tt\string\endrawblockmode} + to mark end} + + +\entry{% +$\left\{\matrix{ \hbox{\tt\string\beginrawlinemode$\{T\}$}\cr +\hbox{\tt\string\endrawlinemode\ \ \ \ \ \ }\cr}\right.$ }% + {raw text parameters and active spaces etc} + +\entry{% +$\left\{\matrix{ \hbox{\tt\string\begindatamode[$T$]$\{m\}$}\cr +\hbox{\tt\string\enddatamode\ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ }\cr}\right.$ }% + {$m$ raw text lines for one form letter} + + +%\hruler \penalty-2000 +\hruler + + +\entry{{\tt\string\PAGENO=1}}% + {page number reset to 1} + + +\entry{{\tt\string\NOPAGENUMBERS}}% + {no page numbers} + + +\entry{{\tt\string\textbox[$p$]$\{text\}$}}% + {$text$ into box of width $p$} + + +\entry{{\tt\string\boxmore[$r$]$\{X\}$}}% + {add borderline to box $X$ at a distance $r$} + + +\entry{{\tt\string\addressbox[$p$][$q$]$\{text\}$}}% + {$text$ into box of width $p$, with wrapped options indented +by $q$} + + +\hruler + +\Longentry{% +$\left\{\matrix{ \hbox{\tt\string\beginlabels + [$a$][$b$][$c$][$d$][$e$][$f$]}\cr + \hbox{\tt\string\endlabels\hskip3cm}\cr}\right.$ }% + {\strut\par{\sl defaults:}\everypar={\hbox{\ \ \ }}\par\par + $a$={\tt 20pt}, \par $b$={\tt\string\tt\string\raggedright}, + \par $c$={\tt1}, $d$={\tt1}, \par + $e$={\tt2.6in}, $f$={\tt2em}}% + {form letters become labels: address taken from $c^{th}$ to +last parameter of $d^{th}$ group, with width $e$, indent +$f$, borderspace $a$ and font toks $b$} + +\hruler + + +\entry{{\tt\string\firstread$\{T\}$}}% + {toks $T$ will not be read if the file is re-read via {\tt + \string\labelsquit}} + + +\entry{{\tt\string\initstyle[$a$]$\{b\}\{c\}$}}% + {initiation for {\tt\string\labelsquit},with styles $a$, + documentstyle $b$ and preamble $c$} + + +\entry{{\tt\string\initclass[$a$][$o$]$\{b\}\{c\}$}}% + {similar to {\tt\string\initstyle} ($o$ is \LaTeX2e options), + but retains native \LaTeX2e when applicable} + + +\hruler \vskip0.5pt +\Longentry{% +$\matrix{\hbox{\tt \string\labelsquit + [$a$][$b$][$c$][$d$][$e$][$f$]$\{$\it file.ext$\}$}\cr + \hbox{}\cr}$}% + {\strut\par{\sl defaults:}\everypar={\hbox{\ \ \ }}\par\par + see that for {\tt\string\beginlabels}} + {quit after converting letters to labels by reading the current + document or {\it file.ext}} + +\hruler + +} + +\footline={\lower5pt +\hbox to \hsize + {{\rm Jiang Z ~~~{\sl Mail merge with the use of formlett.sty} + \hss {\sl $\bullet$End of Document$\bullet$} +\hss \folio}}} + + +\vrule height2.9in width0pt depth0pt +\endcolumns +\vfill\eject + + + +\end{document} + + + + |