Re: Setting Page Size and displaying result correctly

[Gavin Smith]

On Tue, Oct 06, 2020 at 09:58:32AM +0200, Christopher Dimech wrote:
> Dear Compeers,
> 
> I have recently mentioned allowing multiline titles in structured commands
> (e.g. @chapter, @section, @unnumberedsec)
> 
> Another Texinfo aspect to mention is properly setting the page size using 
> @pagesizes.
> 
> Firstly, if one uses a smaller pagesize, the resulting pdf simply cuts the
> page out to the required size. This means that the part of the text, figures,
> etc ... that is outside the area are cut out.

That does not appear to be strictly true, as formatting with a narrow 
page width does shorten the formatted lines, only that the right-hand 
margin completely disappears.

> Have used @pagesizes 250mm,176mm I have also noticed that the result is almost
> correct, showing a pagesize of 250mm,182mm. Perhaps it is also something to 
> look
> at.

Note the following excerpt from the manual:

>>>
 Examples:

     @pagesizes 200mm,150mm
and
     @pagesizes 11.5in

   This would be reasonable for printing on B5-size paper.  To
emphasize, this command specifies the size of the _text area_, not the
size of the paper (which is 250mm by 177mm for B5, 14in by 8.5in for
legal).
>>>

So the page size that appears in e.g. a PDF reader would not match 
the arguments exactly.

> 
> Making @pagesizes work would be extremely beneficial for users.

I doubt that many people will actually print Texinfo manuals onto paper, 
but I don't see why it couldn't be fixed for other paper sizes (assuming 
someone works out how to do it).  Are you going to print on paper that is 
250x176 mm?  Is that B5?