Subject: " Re: man Macro Package and pdfmark" > Just don't do that. Never use low-level roff stuff in manual pages, > don't even think about it. This makes your manual pages non-portable.
I can understand why playing with private aspects of the macro package may be unportable. And it would be poor style to use low-level roff to do what the man macros can do. But I do not see how portability concerns justify such a categorical proscription. As worded, the rule forbids one from using .de, .ds and .nr, which may be useful in assuring consistency of usage within a single man page. Heed the refrain in HMS Pinafore: What, never? No, never. What, never? Well, hardly ever. Doug