File: groff.info,  Node: The Implicit Page Trap,  Next: Diversion Traps,  Prev: Page Location Traps,  Up: Vertical Position Traps

5.28.1.2 The Implicit Page Trap
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If, after starting GNU 'troff' without loading a macro package, you use
the 'ptr' request to dump a list of the active traps to the standard
error stream,(1) (*note The Implicit Page Trap-Footnote-1::) nothing is
reported.  Yet the '.t' register will report a steadily decreasing value
with every output line your document produces, and once the value of
'.t' gets to within '.V' of zero, you will notice that something
trap-like happens--the page is ejected, a new one begins, and the value
of '.t' becomes large once more.

   This "implicit page trap" always exists in the top-level
diversion;(2) (*note The Implicit Page Trap-Footnote-2::) it works like
a trap in some ways but not others.  Its purpose is to eject the current
page and start the next one.  It has no name, so it cannot be moved or
deleted with 'wh' or 'ch' requests.  You cannot hide it by placing
another trap at its location, and can move it only by redefining the
page length with 'pl'.  Its operation is suppressed when vertical page
traps are disabled with GNU 'troff''s 'vpt' request.