The .PARAGRAPH command controls spacing and page placement associated with the creation of paragraphs. The .PARAGRAPH command executes .TEST PAGE, followed by .SKIP and .INDENT. (See also .SET PARAGRAPH.) Format .PARAGRAPH [[-]n1 [,[-]n2 [,n3]]] Abreviated format .P [[-]n1 [,[-]n2 [,n3]]] The parameters n1, n2, and n3 are identical to the values of the .SET PARAGRAPH command. If you choose not to use one of these optional parameters, you must use a comma as a placeholder for the missing parameter in the parameter list.
1 – Parameters
n1 = spaces indented (The default is 5.) Specifies (like .INDENT) how many character positions to the right of the left margin setting the first line of text will begin. -n1 Specifies how many character positions to the left of the left margin setting the first line of text will begin; -n1 cannot, however, cause the text to begin to the left of character position 0. n2 = vertical spacing (The default is 1.) Specifies (like .SKIP) the number of blank lines you want inserted before the paragraph. You get additional blank lines if the .SPACING value is greater than 1 (see .SKIP, .SPACING). -n2 Specifies that the next line of text be pushed to within n2 lines of the bottom of the current page by the insertion of blank lines. Every line but the last one retains the line spacing (.SPACING value) that follows it. n3 = test page lines (The default is 2.) Specifies (like .TEST PAGE) the number of lines of text required to be on one page. This parameter, unlike the .TEST PAGE command, takes into account any blank lines that the .SPACING command is routinely inserting after each line of text. If there is not enough room on the current page to accommodate that many lines, DSR puts the text on the next page. You can cancel this function by specifying 0 for n3.
2 – Defaults
o .PARAGRAPH 5,1,2 o If you enter .PARAGRAPH without one or more of the n values, you get the corresponding setting from the previous .PARAGRAPH or .SET PARAGRAPH that you entered. o If you enter .PARAGRAPH without one or more of the n values and if you have not set values in any previous .PARAGRAPH or .SET PARAGRAPH that you might have entered, you get one or more of the following: n1=5 n2=1 n3=2 The following table shows how to change the default values from 5 for spaces indented, 1 for vertical spaces, and 2 for test page lines: Format Actual Arguments .PARAGRAPH 5,1,2 .PARAGRAPH ,,4 5,1,4 .PARAGRAPH 3 3,1,2 .PARAGRAPH ,2 5,2,2