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Conference vaxuum::document_ft

Title:	DOCUMENT T1.0
Notice:	New notesfile (DOCUMENT.NOTE) now available (see note 897)
Moderator:	CLOSET::ADLER

Created:	Mon Feb 09 1987
Last Modified:	Thu Oct 31 1991
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	897
Total number of notes:	4397

298.0. "Odd <ELLIPSIS> Behavior" by DECWET::CUSTER () Thu Apr 23 1987 15:11

    Here's an example of unexpected behavior with the <ELLIPSIS> tag.
    
    This is a code example that is indented one tab character from the left
    margin: 
    
	<CODE_EXAMPLE>
	<TAG>(SUBCOMMAND_SECTION)(utility name)
	<TAG>(SUBCOMMAND_SECTION_HEAD)(utility name QUALIFIERS)
	<TAG>(SET_TEMPLATE_SUBCOMMAND)(QUALIFIER)
	<ELLIPSIS>
	(<tag>(QUALIFER) subtemplate is inserted here once for each qualifier)
	<ELLIPSIS>
	<TAG>(ENDSUBCOMMAND_SECTION)(utility name)
	<ENDCODE_EXAMPLE>

    The output for this example contains funny-looking ellipses in both the
    GENERAL and SOFTWARE.REFERENCE doctypes.  The first dot in an ellipsis
    is not aligned with the other two.  It looks like this: 
    
    	 .
    	.
    	.
   
    
    But this modified version of the code example produces correct ellipses:
    
	<CODE_EXAMPLE>
	<TAG>(SUBCOMMAND_SECTION)(utility name)
	<TAG>(SUBCOMMAND_SECTION_HEAD)(utility name QUALIFIERS)
	<TAG>(SET_TEMPLATE_SUBCOMMAND)(QUALIFIER)
<ELLIPSIS>
	(<tag>(QUALIFER) subtemplate is inserted here once for each qualifier)
<ELLIPSIS>
	<TAG>(ENDSUBCOMMAND_SECTION)(utility name)
	<ENDCODE_EXAMPLE>

    
    It appears that putting a tab character before an ellipsis scoots
    the first dot over one character in the output.  
    
    
    	-Helen

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
298.1	tab = space	VAXUUM::KOHLBRENNER		`Thu Apr 23 1987 16:59`	12
	Tab characters get converted to single spaces. Putting a tab in a code-example is equivalent to putting a single space there. So you got the space on the line with the first dot, then the next two lines of dots were put out without the "indenting" that you did with the space (tab). Avoid tabs in examples.
298.2	not tabs, I don't think	CLOSET::ANKLAM		`Thu Apr 23 1987 17:20`	6
	It's not the tabs. It's a side effect of the environment of monospaced examples. It's not possible to tell, when someone enters an <ellipsis> tag, where the dots are to go. I will look at it.
298.3	Ellipsis in monospaced font/code_example	RDCV01::FSL	Rob Aldridge	`Wed Aug 19 1987 15:20`	28
	<P>Just in case this matter has been forgotten, I thought bring it up once more. There is a problem with using ELLIPSIS in a CODE_EXAMPLE that is not kept flush-left. <P>Observe: (this sample was tested using Soft.Guide) <CODE_EXAMPLE> This example is <ELLIPSIS> flush left <ENDCODE_EXAMPLE> <CODE_EXAMPLE> This example is <ELLIPSIS> five characters from the left <ENDCODE_EXAMPLE> <P> -Rob-