On Thu, Oct 26, 2017 at 07:24:43PM +0200, Ingo Schwarze wrote: > Hi Walter, > > Walter Alejandro Iglesias wrote on Thu, Oct 26, 2017 at 05:44:16PM +0200: > > > I have files generated with GNU roff that defaults to letter size. > > That's the upstream (GNU troff) default when you compile GNU troff > from the git repository with automake and autoconf. If i understand > correctly, it is the GNU troff default because it is also the default > used by GNU autoconf in general. > > > This doesn't happen on Linux, I ignore why. > > I doubt this has anything to do with Linux (neither the kernel nor > whatever C library or userland applications are used). But it may > depend on whatever operating system distribution you are using. It > is well-known that many Lnux distributions engage in tweaking > upstream defaults, even those settings that are more or less a > matter of personal preference.
By "linux" I meant distributions. > > > This is set in DESC config files. > > > > $ grep -ER 'papersize (letter|a4)' /usr/local/share/groff/* > > /usr/local/share/groff/1.22.3/font/devdvi/DESC:papersize letter > > /usr/local/share/groff/1.22.3/font/devlj4/DESC:papersize letter > > /usr/local/share/groff/1.22.3/font/devps/DESC:papersize letter > > /usr/local/share/groff/1.22.3/font/devlbp/DESC:papersize letter > > /usr/local/share/groff/1.22.3/font/devpdf/DESC:papersize letter > > That is automatically generated at GNU troff build time, controlled > by files generated by autoconf, controlled by files generated by > automake, controlled by files autogenerated by whatever (insert > your favourite rabbit hole here). > > In any case, the fact that groff defaults to "papersize letter" is > the reason why mandoc(1) does the same. Unless there are strong > reasons to diverge, mandoc aims for compatibility with groff. Yes, I figured out it was an option selected at compile time (curiously in Slackware, being american, groff is compiled to use a4). What moved me to test this on Linux is I remember using the /etc/papersize file there. But it seems groff and gv ignore that file (I mean on linux). > > Yours, > Ingo Thank you Ingo.
