File: groff.info,  Node: Line Continuation,  Next: Page Layout,  Prev: Line Layout,  Up: GNU troff Reference

5.16 Line Continuation
======================

When filling is enabled, input and output line breaks generally do not
correspond.  The 'roff' language therefore distinguishes input and
output line continuation.

 -- Escape sequence: \
     '\' (a backslash immediately followed by a newline) suppresses
     the effects of that newline in the input.  The next input line thus
     retains the classification of its predecessor as a control or text
     line.  '\' is useful for managing line lengths in the input
     during document maintenance; you can break an input line in the
     middle of a request invocation, macro call, or escape sequence.
     Input line continuation is invisible to the formatter, with two
     exceptions: the '|' operator recognizes the new input line (*note
     Numeric Expressions::), and the input line counter register '.c' is
     incremented.

          .ll 50n
          .de I
          .  ft I
          .  nop \\$*
          .  ft
          ..
          Our film class watched
          .I The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon
          Marigolds. \" whoops, the input line wrapped
          .br
          .I My own opus begins on line \n[.c] \
          and ends on line \n[.c].
              => Our film class watched The Effect of Gamma Rays on
              => Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds.
              => My own opus begins on line 11 and ends on line 12.

 -- Escape sequence: \c
 -- Register: \n[.int]
     '\c' continues an output line.  Nothing after it on the input line
     is formatted.  In contrast to '\', a line after '\c' remains a
     new input line, so a control character is recognized at its
     beginning.  The visual results depend on whether filling is
     enabled; see *note Manipulating Filling and Adjustment::.

        * If filling is enabled, a word interrupted with '\c' is
          continued with the text on the next input text line, without
          an intervening space.

               This is a te\c
               st.
                   => This is a test.

        * If filling is disabled, the next input text line after '\c' is
          handled as a continuation of the same input text line.

               .nf
               This is a \c
               test.
                   => This is a test.

     An intervening control line that causes a break overrides '\c',
     flushing out the pending output line in the usual way.

     The '.int' register contains a positive value if the last output
     line was continued with '\c'; this datum is associated with the
     environment (*note Environments::).(1)  (*note Line
     Continuation-Footnote-1::)