[texhax] re TeX Query 7: measuring the real height and width

[Paul Stanley]

hi folks,
This is the resumption of an old thread which was temporarily solved 
several months ago. I've pasted the original query and anser below.

can the list suggest a way of measuring the height and width of an 
individual row or column or any construct entirely or in part with 
the \showthe command?
I suppose what I'm looking for is a generic syntax that could be 
applied to any part of the document.
As I am not able to, as it were, eyeball the output or measure it in 
any visual way, this could be an equally efective solution.

Sincerely,
Paul


At 13:26 09/12/2012, you wrote:
On Sun, Dec  9, 2012 at 03:27 (+0000), Paul Stanley wrote:

 > Hi folks,
 > How does one draw a `virtical' line to a specified length in order to
 > measure the height of box or boxes in the output?

 > For example, a virtical line to get an idea of the `real' height of
 > the following structure:
 > %start code
 > {\hsize = 5cm \settabs 3 \columns
 > \+column 1&column 2&column 3\cr
 > \+one&cattle&herd\cr
 > \+two&fish&school\cr
 > \+three&lions&pride\cr}
 > %end code

 > There may be other ways of getting the real height and width of boxes
 > and compound structures, if so, i'd be grateful for more info.

Paul,

if you say

\setbox0=\vbox{
{\hsize = 5cm \settabs 3 \columns
  \+column 1&column 2&column 3\cr
  \+one&cattle&herd\cr
  \+two&fish&school\cr
  \+three&lions&pride\cr}
}

\showthe\ht0


\showthe\dp0


you will get the height and depth of that construct.

This doesn't draw a vertical line for measuring, but if that was an
indirect method anyway, you might like this better.

If you really want a rule drawn, try this:

\setbox0=\vbox{
{\hsize = 5cm \settabs 3 \columns
  \+column 1&column 2&column 3\cr
  \+one&cattle&herd\cr
  \+two&fish&school\cr
  \+three&lions&pride\cr}
}
\hbox{\vrule  height \ht0 depth \dp0 \box0}


Cheers.
				Jim