Dot commands are used to specify page layout,
page design, headings footings, run-time data, rulers etc. They
are two letter commands, some with arguments. They may appear in
the start-up profile, [account.name].WORD of the users MD, a the
page layout item, [document.name].4WL, or may be embedded in a
document at the start of a line.
The numbers in square brackets beside each dot command signify:
1 May be used at any point in a document
2 May be used in the start-up profile [account.name].WORD
3 May be used in the page layout item [document.name.4WL
.. - Comment [1]
Any number of comment lines can appear in a document. They are not printed at print time. The first line of each document is displayed on the catalogue listing, therefore It is good practice to start each document with a comment briefly describing its contents.
.AV - Ask for variable [1]
Ask for and assign text to a variable as it is being printed. The variable name to be printed is enclosed between ampersands.
Format .AV
{"[message]"},NAME,{[length]}
Where:
[message] is an optional prompt enclosed in quotes. If [message]
is omitted then the variable name will be used.
NAME is the variable name assigned to the text value
[length] is an optional input text length
Example .AV "Reference Number",REFNO,12
Our reference : &REFNO&
.CN - Chapter Numbers [1]
If chapter oriented numbers are required rather than sequential page numbers then use .CN prior to each chapter.
Format: .CN [Chapter.Number]
.CH - Chain [1]
Where a document has been split into more than on item, use .CH to transfer control from the current document to continue at the start of another.
Format: .CH [Filename],[Document]
.CP - Conditional Page Break [1]
Force a page break if there are less than a given number of lines remaining on the current page.
Format: .CP n
Where n is the number of lines to check
.CS - Clear Screen [1]
Clear the terminal screen and optionally display a message. This may also be usefull if text displayed during printing has overwritten the menu.
Format: .CS {[message]}
Example: .SV WHO,Managing Director
.CS Printing Memo to &WHO&
.DM - Display Message [1]
The same as .CS but does not clear the screen. Identical to .TY
Example: .DM Make sure the proper paper is
loaded
.DQ - Draft Quality Printing [1,2]
This command may not be supported on certain printers
.FO - Footing [1]
Specify a single line of footing to be printed at the bottom of each page.
Format: .FO [Footing.Text]
.Fn - Footing line n , where n = 1 to 9 [1]
Specify multiple footing lines, 1 through 9, assuming sufficient space exists in the footing margin.
Format: .Fn [Footing.Text]
.FF - Form-feed between pages [1,2]
.FM - Footing Margin [2,3]
See Menu Option 'User defaults' or page layout command ^OP
.HE - Heading [1]
Specify a single line of heading to be printed at the top of each page.
Format .HE [Heading.Text]
.Hn - Heading line n, where n = 1 to 9 [1]
Specify multiple heading lines, 1 through 9, assuming sufficient space exists in the heading margin.
Format .Hn [Heading.Text]
.HM - Heading Margin [2,3]
See Menu Option 'User defaults' or page layout command ^OP
.IG - Comment Line [1]
Identical to '..'
.IN - Insert [1]
Paste a complete document or a single line from a document at print time into the document being printed.
Format: .IN [File],[Document]{,[attribute.No]}
.IP - Input a line of text [1]
.LA - Line Anchor [1]
Set the following line to appear on [line number] on the body of the document at print time.
Note that this command does not affect line count at screen entry time, therefore a mismatch could occur between paging details displayed on the screen against page breaks created at print time.
Format: .LA [line Number]
.LF - Line feed between pages [1,2]
.LH - Line height [2,3]
See Menu Option 'User defaults' or page layout command ^OP
.LQ -Letter Quality Printing [1,2]
This command may not be supported on certain printers. It is a legacy command retained for compatibility with dot-matrix printers
.LS - Line Spacing [2,3]
See Menu Option 'User defaults' or page layout command ^OP
.MB - Margin at bottom [2,3]
See Menu Option 'User defaults' or page layout command ^OP
.MT - Margin at top [2,3]
See Menu Option 'User defaults' or page layout command ^OP
.OP - Page numbering off [1,2,3]
See Menu Option 'User defaults' or page layout command ^OP
.PA - Force a new page [1]
.PC - Page number column [1,2]
The position of the default page number in 1/10 inch
.PL - Paper Length [2,3]
See Menu Option 'User defaults' or page layout command ^OP
.PN - Page numbering on [1,2,3]
See Menu Option 'User defaults' or page layout command ^OP
.PN - Set Page Number [1]
When this command is used with [page number], then the current
page number is set to [page number] at print time.
Format .PN [Page Number]
.PO - Page offset [2,3]
See Menu Option 'User defaults' or page layout command ^OP
.PP - Printer Pause [1,2]
Force printing to pause after each page has been printed. A prompt will be displayed on the screen for an action to continue
.RR - Read Ruler [1,2]
Read the named ruler from the ruler library and insert into the document. Rulers are held in item .RULER of the MD.
Format: .RR Ruler.Name
.SV - Set variable [1]
This causes every instance of a variable to be replaced by a string of text throughout the document.
Format: .SV NAME,[string.of.text]
Example: .SV REFNO,abc/123/def
Our reference : &REFNO&
.TY - Type a line on the screen [1]
Identical to .DM
.V1 - Use 4-Word Version 1 Style Highlights when printing[1,2]
.XP - Execute a program [1]
Specify a program name to be executed at print time.
Format .XP [Program.Name]
.XS - Call a subroutine [1]
Specify a subroutine to be called at print time. For example, you could call a user written subroutine to draw or download a graphics form onto the printer. Text printed from the word processor would then overlay the form.
Format .XS [Subroutine.Name]