bugGNU roff - Bugs: bug #59825, [ms] implement SG macro

 
 

bug #59825: [ms] implement SG macro

Submitter:  G. Branden Robinson <gbranden>
Submitted:  Tue 05 Jan 2021 03:01:27 AM UTC
   
 
Category:  Macro ms Severity:  1 - Wish
Item Group:  Feature change Status:  Rejected
Privacy:  Public Assigned to:  gbranden
Open/Closed:  Closed Planned Release:  None
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Fri 08 Jul 2022 01:25:28 AM UTC, comment #3: 

The more I learn about ms cover sheet (a.k.a document type) macros, the less I see value in reimplementing them, or the auxiliary macros that were meaningful only for certain document types.

That includes `SG`.

Recent changes to our ms(7) documentation clarify this matter.


4.6.7.1 Unix Version 7 'ms' macros not implemented by 'groff' 'ms'
..................................................................

Several macros described in the Unix Version 7 'ms' documentation are
unimplemented by 'groff' 'ms' because they are specific to the
requirements of documents produced internally by Bell Laboratories, some
of which also require a glyph for the Bell System logo that 'groff' does
not support.  These include macros implementing several document type
formats ('EG', 'IM', 'MF', 'MR', 'TM', 'TR'), were meaningful only in
conjuction with the use of certain document types ('AT', 'CS', 'CT',
'OK', 'SG'), stored the postal addresses of Bell Labs sites ('HO', 'IH',
'MH', 'PY', 'WH'), or lack a stable definition historically ('UX').  To
compatibly render historical 'ms' documents using these macros, we
advise you to define replacements with an authentically typeset original
at hand.  For informal purposes, a simple definition of 'UX' should
maintain the readability of the document's substance.

     .ds UX Unix\"


G. Branden Robinson <gbranden>
Group administrator
Tue 01 Feb 2022 09:11:22 PM UTC, comment #2: 

The Eighth Edition Research Unix manual, in its ms(7) page,
documents `SG` as follows.

> Insert signature(s) of author(s), ignored except in TM.  x
> is the reference line (initials of author and typist).


I feel better about the guess I made in comment #0.

Anyway, since we don't implement the `TM` macro (Bell Labs
Computing Science Technical Memorandum, a cover sheet style),
there is no point in implementing `SG` either, and only the
somewhat rough editorial status of the Seventh Edition "Typing
Documents on the Unix System" paper led me to believe otherwise.

Postponing, indefinitely unless someone wants to take up the
challenge of reconstructing old AT&T cover sheets.  I don't.

G. Branden Robinson <gbranden>
Group administrator
Sun 06 Jun 2021 04:21:23 PM UTC, comment #1: 

It seems a good bet that SG in ms means approximately what it does mm, which I've had occasion to look at again recently.


       SG [arg [1]]
              Signature line.  Prints the authors name(s) after the formal
              closing.  The argument is appended to the reference data,
              printed at either the first or last author.  The reference data
              is the location, department, and initials specified with .AU.
              It is printed at the first author if the second argument is
              given, otherwise at the last.  No reference data is printed if
              the author(s) is specified through .WA/.WE.  See section “Inter‐
              nals” below.


I have a hunch that AT&T ms's .SG was less elaborate but of similar purpose.

G. Branden Robinson <gbranden>
Group administrator
Tue 05 Jan 2021 03:01:27 AM UTC, original submission:  

Lesk 1978-11-13 documents an SG "command" (macro).  Its description is short.

"Signature line.  You can obtain a signature line by placing the command .SG in the document.  The authors' names will be output in place of the .SG line.  An argument to .SG is used as a typing identification line, and placed after the signatures.  The .SG command is ignored in released paper format."

("Released paper format" means that .RP was used.)

I may have overlooked it, but I don't think I see a specimen of .SG in the rendered examples in Lesk's paper (there is a source example).  Thus, what exactly should be rendered is somewhat open to interpretation.

I also don't know what Lesk means by a "typing identification line".  My guess is that one application has to do with the old secretarial practice of "(AB:cd)" or however that went.

G. Branden Robinson <gbranden>
Group administrator

 

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    Follow 6 latest changes.

    Date Changed by Updated Field Previous Value => Replaced by
    2022-08-18 gbranden Assigned toNone gbranden
    2022-07-08 gbranden StatusPostponed Rejected
        Open/ClosedOpen Closed
    2022-02-01 gbranden Severity3 - Normal 1 - Wish
    2022-02-01 gbranden StatusNone Postponed
        Assigned togbranden None

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