Hi Walter, Walter Alejandro Iglesias wrote on Thu, Oct 26, 2017 at 05:44:16PM +0200:
> I have files generated with GNU roff that defaults to letter size. That's the upstream (GNU troff) default when you compile GNU troff from the git repository with automake and autoconf. If i understand correctly, it is the GNU troff default because it is also the default used by GNU autoconf in general. > This doesn't happen on Linux, I ignore why. I doubt this has anything to do with Linux (neither the kernel nor whatever C library or userland applications are used). But it may depend on whatever operating system distribution you are using. It is well-known that many Lnux distributions engage in tweaking upstream defaults, even those settings that are more or less a matter of personal preference. > This is set in DESC config files. > > $ grep -ER 'papersize (letter|a4)' /usr/local/share/groff/* > /usr/local/share/groff/1.22.3/font/devdvi/DESC:papersize letter > /usr/local/share/groff/1.22.3/font/devlj4/DESC:papersize letter > /usr/local/share/groff/1.22.3/font/devps/DESC:papersize letter > /usr/local/share/groff/1.22.3/font/devlbp/DESC:papersize letter > /usr/local/share/groff/1.22.3/font/devpdf/DESC:papersize letter That is automatically generated at GNU troff build time, controlled by files generated by autoconf, controlled by files generated by automake, controlled by files autogenerated by whatever (insert your favourite rabbit hole here). In any case, the fact that groff defaults to "papersize letter" is the reason why mandoc(1) does the same. Unless there are strong reasons to diverge, mandoc aims for compatibility with groff. Yours, Ingo
