\input amstexl
\input lamstex
\input lamslogo

\docstyle{letter}

\litdelimiter*

\document

\return
3701 W. Alabama, Suite 450-273
Houston, TX 77027

\address
{\LamSTeX} Users
At Your Computers
Wherever They May Be

\salute
Dear Mr. or Ms. {\LamSTeX} User:

A comparison of the input file \lit*letter.tex* with this output reveals
the main features of the \lit*letter* style.

The most distinctive feature of this style is the fact that after the
\Lit*
\return
*
line, for the return address, and after the
\Lit*
\address
*
line, for the address of the person to whom the letter is sent, line
breaks occur exactly as you type them---no special control symbol is
required to indicate these line breaks; thus, you can type these addresses
just as you would type them on a typewriter.


This special line processing for the \lit*\return* and \lit*\address* is
turned off by the blank line at the end of the return address or address.

Notice, by the way, that the current date (i.e., the date that your
computer thinks it is), is added automatically.

Somewhat less obvious, but also quite convenient, is the fact that \TeX's
normal conventions about adding extra spaces after periods is turned off
for the \lit*\address* and for the salutation (the first line after the
\lit*\salute*).  So if your address or salutation includes a title like
`Mr\.' or `Ms\.' you don't have to treat the period specially (either by
adding \lit*~* after it, or by typing it as `\lit*\.*').

Unlike a paper or book style, where one expects a sequence of pages all of
the same length, in the \lit*letter* style shorter pages are allowed,
while page breaks between paragraphs are discouraged.  No \lit*\HL* or
\lit*\hl* headings are defined in the \lit*letter* style, nor can you make
a table of contents or an index (if your letters need either, I'd
certainly hate to read them!). Similarly, \lit*\title*, \lit*\author*,
etc., are not defined.

The \lit*\closing* also has special features.  Not only do the line breaks
appear as you type them, but extra space is left after the first line, for
a signature.

Similarly, lines after \lit*\annotations* are broken as they appear on the
screen. (In business letters, there is usually at least one such line,
giving the initials of the writer/typist.)  The lines after \lit*\cc* (to
indicate where copies were sent) are even more special, since the first is
preceded by `cc: '\ while the remaining lines are indented to line up with
the first.  The \lit*\encl* command (to indicate enclosures) is similar.
But \lit*\ps*, for a postscript, reverts to normal \TeX\ conventions;
notice that you have to put in any `P.S.'\ yourself).

The letter ends with an \lit*\endletter*, even though no `\lit*\letter*'
command is required to begin it (in case this asymmetry bothers you, the
\lit*letter* style does allow you to type \lit*\letter* at the beginning
of the letter, but this command actually has no effect at all).

Notice that \lit*\endletter* doesn't cause \TeX\ to quit---an
\lit*\enddocument* is still required.  That allows you to type as many
letters as you like in a single file, each of the form
\Lit*
\return
 . . .
 . . .
 . . .
\endletter
*
with an \lit*\enddocument* at the very end.

The second page of this letter shows another feature---the heading that is
supplied automatically after the first page (once again, spaces after
periods in abbreviations like `Mr\.' and `Ms\.' will not be bigger in this
heading).

Here is a list of other features that are not illustrated directly by this
file:
\list \advance\litindent30pt

\item If you type
\Lit*
\date{...}
*
before your \lit*\document* line, then `\lit*...*' will be used as the
date (and \lit*\date{}* will therefore suppress a date). \lit*\today*
stands for the current date, so \lit*\date\today* would specify the
current date (of course, there's not much point in typing this, since the
current date is supplied automatically by default).

\item If you type \lit*\noheading* near the beginning of your letter, then
no headings will appear on pages after the first; this may be necessary if
the salutation is long (because of a long name, or a name together with a
title).  If you type \lit*\NoHeadings* before your \lit*\document* line,
then none of the letters will have headings.

\item If you type
\Lit*
\Return
 First line of return address
 Second line of return address
 . . .
\endReturn
*
before your \lit*\document* line, then this return address will
automatically be used on each of the letters in the document; however, you
can always change the return address for a particular letter by using
\lit*\return* at the beginning of that letter.

\item Similarly, there is a way to avoid retyping the same ``sign off''
for each letter.  If you type
\Lit*
\Signoff
 . . .
 . . .
\endSignoff
*
before your \lit*\document* line, then you can simply type
\Lit*
\closing
\signoff
*
at the end.  You can also type something like
\Lit*
\closing
Sincerely yours,
\signoff
*
where your \lit*\Signoff* includes only your title, etc., so that your can
use different closings for different people.

\item If you type
\Lit*
\foldlines
*
before your \lit*\document* line, then all you letters will have little
fold lines near the right margin, as a guide for folding the letter into
thirds.  The address will then be positioned properly to appear in the
window of a standard \#10 window envelope.  \endlist

And that's about it.

\closing
Sincerely yours,
Michael Spivak, President
The \TeX plorators Corporation

\annotations MS/\TeX

\cc Other {\LamSTeX} Users
Other \TeX\ Users

\encl An empty \lit*\hbox*.
An empty \lit*\vbox*.

\ps P.S. Hope you don't mind these silly remarks at the end; they're just
meant to show you how \lit*\cc* and \lit*\encl* work.

\ps P.P.S. This letter probably doesn't remind you of a real business
letter, not only because of the content, but also because it is printed in
10~point type, and business letters are usually typed on a typewriter,
whose type is closer to 11~point. The magical incantation
\lit*\mag=\magstephalf*
at the beginning of your file will make it look much more like a
customary business letter. \lit*\mag=\magstep1* might be used for a very
brief letter.

\endletter

\enddocument