[tex-eplain] adjusting the space between multiple columns

[Dan Luecking]

At 10:40 AM 1/11/2007, you wrote:
>How can I adjust the space between columns when using \doublecolumns,
>while keeping the overall page width constant? That is, when the space
>between the two equally wide columns is made bigger, I want the actual
>column widths to get smaller.
>
>The relevant Eplain docs (section 4.16) mention \gutter, so I tried:
>
>\gutter = 30 mm

It works for me. You need to write that _before_ \doublecolumns so
the code can calculate the width of a column:
\gutter=30mm
\doublecolumns

>\def\gutterbox{\vbox to \dimen0{\vfil\hbox{\hskip 10 mm}\vfil}}
>
>it seems to make the space between columns larger, but also makes a
>dark black vertical line on the far right side that cuts off the
>column on the right.

That black line is TeX's indication of an overfull box. You've
pushed the right column passed the margin edge. That's because
you increased the width of the gutter contents, but didn't decrease
the width of the columns.

>\doublecolumns
>%\gutter = 40 mm % Doesn't seem to make a difference either way.

Reverse the order of these two lines.


Dan


Daniel H. Luecking
Department of Mathematical Sciences
University of Arkansas
"Mathematician's endless fortune to be around English monarch (8)"