On Thu, 5 Nov 2020 at 11:57, Henri Menke wrote:

%D The default dimensions are quite old and will not change. The funny fractions %D were introduced when we went from fixed dimensions to relative ones. Since %D \CONTEXT\ is a dutch package, the dimensions are based on the metric system. The %D asymmetrical layout is kind of handy for short quick||and||dirty stapled %D documents.

https://github.com/contextgarden/context-mirror/blob/343fdd99ef79884fca1f86b...

So it's for backward compatibility then. Thanks for the nice anecdote!

On Thu, 5 Nov 2020 at 16:25, Pablo Rodriguez wrote:

Hi Sylvain,

you can avoid this with the following code (althought the "height" option is probably not needed):

\setuplayout[width=middle, height=middle]

Thanks Pablo. This happens to be what I've been looking for for a long time. I’m not expert on typesetting, but I read somewhere (too long ago to be

able to remember when) that printed papers should have wider outer margins to put your fingers on it.

Yes, this makes sense.

See the following the output from:

\setuppagenumbering[alternative=doublesided] \starttext \showframe \showsetups \stoptext

Just in case it helps,

Sylvain

On 11/5/2020 9:58 PM, Henning Hraban Ramm wrote:

...

Am 05.11.2020 um 16:21 schrieb Pablo Rodriguez :

I’m not expert on typesetting, but I read somewhere (too long ago to be able to remember when) that printed papers should have wider outer margins to put your fingers on it.

In classical book layout, the two inner margins (2*backspace) should equal one outer margin.

But this makes *only* sense with thread-bound books that you can open completely.

In glued (perfect bound) books, the inner margin should be at least the same if not bigger than the outer margins to get a similar view.

Modern books, independent of binding techniques, usually don’t use a classical book layout, because that uses a lot of whitespace, i.e. more pages = higher printing and shipping costs.

It’s still true that margins should be big enough for your fingers – but depending on size and content of the book, different uses might suggest different space placement. E.g. I’d use a big inner margin for guides that you usually keep in one hand, thumb in the middle. For textbooks, a big bottom margin makes sense, because you can put it in a stand. A song book / hymnal you’d hold in both hands, so it needs big enough outer margins.

When we started with context (long ago) it was mostly used for single sided documents with a staple in the corner and room fo rmaking notes. Hans ----------------------------------------------------------------- Hans Hagen | PRAGMA ADE Ridderstraat 27 | 8061 GH Hasselt | The Netherlands tel: 038 477 53 69 | www.pragma-ade.nl | www.pragma-pod.nl -----------------------------------------------------------------