newb question

i didn't see this in the FAQ.  i've noticed in a lot of "old skool"
txt files (zines and such), the are "justified" columns with carefully
placed, almost unnoticeable, instances of 2 spaces between words
instead of one, so that both the left and right margins line up.  i
was thinking that this would be useful when combining ascii art with
lengthy paragraphs, should i ever have need to do such a thing... is
this usually done manually, or are there tools out there to assist one
in doing this without making it look like crap?

anu...@email.ipagan.net (Anubis Yellowstar) writes:

> txt files (zines and such), the are "justified" columns with carefully
> placed, almost unnoticeable, instances of 2 spaces between words
> instead of one, so that both the left and right margins line up.

That is called block justification, as opposed to left justification
(normal text) or right justification (unused space all at left) or middle
justification (equal space at both ends).


> was thinking that this would be useful when combining ascii art with
> lengthy paragraphs, should i ever have need to do such a thing... is

Possibly. If you want an very stylish page.


> this usually done manually, or are there tools out there to assist one
> in doing this without making it look like crap?

There definitely are tools. They are known as text formatters.

But I would assume them to wreck any ASCII art inserted. Or at least
make it fairly difficult, as the Art needs to be specially marked so
it does not get moved around.

They are also fairly oldfashioned to use, requiring one to write the
text with formatting commands inserted. The working style is a bit
like writing HTML Web pages by hand (without an special web editor).

Example:

Text with inserted formatting commands, for the "troff" formatter:
http://neil.franklin.ch/Jokes_and_Fun/crashed.8

What the formatter produces:
http://neil.franklin.ch/Jokes_and_Fun/Man_Page_Crashed

Compare the 2 pages to see how much you need to do. Then try and
imagine inserting an ASCII art into it. This will require an  .br  line
between each art line (so that they do not get "flowed" into one long
string and then cut up to fit the page).

And how one makes text appear next to the picture, without having to
manually "mix" them, I do not know (I am not really an expert at this).


--
Neil Franklin, nei...@franklin.ch.remove http://neil.franklin.ch/
Hacker, Unix Guru, El Eng HTL/BSc, Programmer, Archer, Blacksmith
- hardware runs the world, software controls the hardware
  code generates the software, have you coded today?

Anubis Yellowstar wrote:
 >           i didn      't see th   is in t        he FAQ.  i've noticed in a
 >           lot of     "old skool"   txt fil      es (zin  es and such), the
 >          are "jus    tified" colu  mns wit     h carefu  lly placed, almost
 >           unnotic   eable, instanc  es of 2     spaces    between
 >           words i  nstead   of one   , so th  at both     the left and rig
 >          ht margi  ns line   up. i    was th  inking      that this would
 > be usef  ul when  combining ascii ar  t with length      y parag
 > raphs, should i  ever have need to do   such a thin      g... is this usual
 >  ly done manual ly, or a      re there   tools out        there to assist o
 >    ne in doin   g this         without    making         it look like crap?

JavE's Camelize tool can be very useful for doing this.

It's original intend was to make ascii-art by formating provided textinput.

Here's a repost of a picture of mine that uses one of the variations that the 
Camelize tool can provide :

     :I'm::     ::scared::  Dave.:I:can      :feel:     :my::  mind:going.
    ::I'm:::    :::::       :::::  :::::    afraid.:    :I'm:  :::::  :::::
   ::::  :::    :afraid,:   Dave.:Dave.    :my:  mind   :is::  :::::   ::::
  going.::::I   :can:       feel:it.:I    can::::feel   :it.:  :my::   mind
  is::::going.  ::::        ::::   there  is::::::::no  :::::  ::question::
::::      :::: ::::        ::::    about:it.      :I:: can:    feel:it.

This text is from "2001 - A Space Odyssey"

The original text was hard to fit so I choose to fill the spaces as you see, 
but you don't have to do that.

Draw the shape you want the text to fit and then copy the text into Jave and 
select it.
Then start the Camelize tool, load the image and play with the options.

In article<357...@posting.google.com>, Anubis
Yellowstar <anu...@email.ipagan.net> writes:
>i didn't see this in the FAQ.  i've noticed in a lot of "old skool" txt 
>files (zines and such), the are "justified" columns with carefully 
>placed, almost unnoticeable, instances of 2 spaces between words instead 
>of one, so that both the left and right margins line up.  i was thinking 
>that this would be useful when combining ascii art with lengthy 
>paragraphs, should i ever have need to do such a thing... is this 
>usually done manually, or are there tools out there to assist one in 
>doing this without making it look like crap? 

 The received wisdom is that for text, especially long lines of
 equal-spaced typewriter font, ragged line ends are useful to 
 make it more readable:  if you justify, it is all one great 
 long smooth block, and it is difficult to keep your attention
 from slipping off the current line.

-- 
 Dave Bird, an official ARS HakeMonger                        ><_'>  <_"
(licensed to mung pelagic fish and clams of all kinds upon the Internet)
"If turbot be the food of hate, Lay on MacErrel and, by damn, 
    Cry HADDOCK  and let loose the cods of war!"            Wm Skatesfin