# [texhax] TeX query 5: \hsize and \settabs

Paul Stanley paulrichardstanley at gmail.com
Sun Dec 2 08:49:23 CET 2012

```Hi folks,
I've been playing with the `\settabs' macro and have made the
following observations (with a little help from a sighted friend):

* All columns are left-aligned by default.

* The `\settabs' structure ( `{\hsize ... \settabs ... }' ) is
left-aligned on the page by default.

* The `\hsize' value determines the length of the gap between the
left-most edge of the left column and the left-most edge of the right
column for each pair of columns.. So, the `\hsize' value in a table
with 4 columns will apply to columns one and two, two and three, and
three and four. The gaps between the points in all pairings is the same length.

* A `0' value assigned to `\hsize' will left align all columns and
place them on top of each other over the left-most column in the table.

* A positive value of `\hsize' will measure the two points in the
column pairings in the order the columns appear in the source.

* A negative value of `\hsize' will produce a mirror of the output
produced by its positive inverse.

Other than that, please feel free to point out any errors or fill in
the gaps in above notes.

Many thanks,
Paul

```

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