[OS X TeX] layout, margins, etc.

[Claus Gerhardt]

After looking up margin in the index of the Latex Companion and being  
referred to the Layout Section, I learnt of the layout package, which  
after loading and entering the command \layout, shows you the actual  
settings of your document in points.

Also shown is a layout scheme with the help of which changes to  
settings can be easily arranged, e.g.,

\hoffset=-0.5in


will give you 1/2in margins, or at least what we laymen call margins.  
The \textwidth has of course to be specified accordingly to get both  
margins right, see below.

Since I consider the layout to be very sensitive, I would like to  
have its settings under complete control, unless of course I have to  
use a given setting. Therefore, instead of using the geometry  
package, I prefer to arrange my settings according to the layout  
scheme guided only by my taste.

Especially for a preprint I prefer to define the textheight and the  
textwidth and have the body centered in the page regardless of the  
dimensions of the page. This will be achieved by the definitions below.

Claus

\RequirePackage{calc}
\newlength{\oddsidemarginlength}
\newlength{\topmarginlength}

\hoffset=0pt
\voffset=0pt

\textwidth = 11.7cm
\setlength{\textheight}{18.93cm -\topskip}

\newcounter{numberoflines}
\newcounter{tempcc}
\setcounter{numberoflines}{\textheight}
\setcounter{tempcc}{\baselineskip}
\setcounter{numberoflines}{\value{numberoflines}/\value{tempcc}}
\setlength{\textheight}{\baselineskip*\value{numberoflines}+\topskip}

\setlength{\oddsidemarginlength}{(\paperwidth-\textwidth)/2-1in}
\setlength{\topmarginlength}{(\paperheight-\textheight)/2-1in}

\oddsidemargin=\oddsidemarginlength
\evensidemargin=\oddsidemargin
\topmargin=\topmarginlength
\headsep=20pt


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