Re: [Groff] tbl and inter-column spacing

[Werner LEMBERG]

> attached  is  an example (using `ms' macros).

Thanks.

> wheras, empirically, it seems that the `expand' works in such a way
> that it actually shrinks the table if it was too wide in the first
> place.  which sure is a feature in my view... but apparently it
> shrinks the table as far as possible without causing overlap of
> columns and that was what I've seen causing the seamless merging of
> some entries within the same row. question: would it not be nicer to
> stop the shrinking when the inter-column spacing has dropped to,
> say, one "m" space or something like that?

It would be nicer indeed, but for compatibility it isn't handled like
this.

> Maybe one should add a corresponding remark to the manpage, e.g.
> 
> expand -- Makes the table as wide as the current line length if
>           possble. For wide tables the effect might actually be a
>           squeezing of the inter-column spacing in the table in an
>           attempt to keep it completely on the page. The table might
>           extend into the right margin in this case.

I've just added something like that, thanks.

> question is, would it be possible for `tbl' to
> do a final check of table width vs. line  length/page  size?

In CVS.  Please test.


    Werner