define tabto n;
  if n<0 then nl(1)
  elseif n<pop_charout_col then nl(1); tabto(n)
  else sp(n-pop_charout_col)
  endif
enddefine;

But of course it does not work if you are outputting to anything other
than the "terminal". Now clearly one can program round any problems, but
is there a nice easy way of generating disc-files with tabulated output?

Robin

E.g.

    define name_space;
        npr('     my    name    is    Ian       Rogers');
    enddefine;

    define print_to_disc;
        dlocal cucharout = discout('name_file');
        name_space();
        cucharout(termin);
    enddefine

The final 'cucharout(termin);' is needed to close the disk device,
although it's not strictly needed as the garbage collector will do
it for you at the next collection.

pop_charout_col and company will work for these "disk" devices
as well as for "terminals". Ie., from REF * CHARIO:

  pop_charout_col -> int                                        [variable]
  int -> pop_charout_col
  pop_charerr_col -> int                                        [variable]
  int -> pop_charerr_col
          These variables  contain  integers representing  the  number  of
          columns filled  by charout  and  charerr respectively  in  their
          current lines,  where  tab  characters  count  as  vedindentstep
          columns if in VED or 8 otherwise, control characters (i.e. ASCII
          value < 32) count as none, and all other characters count as  1.
          These values are reset to 0 on outputting a newline character.

Ian                  

Pah! That's what I get for not reading the documentation properly :-(
charout is the default value of cucharout, so reassigning cucharout will
stop pop_charout_col from being updated.

But, the standard pretty printers in Pop *will* work (honest, I've
actually checked this time :-), and printf and so one will also work.

    define print_big;
        [oh freddled [gruntbuggly, thy] micturations are to me as plurdled
        gabbleblotchets [on a [lurged] bee] [groop [I implore you [my
        footing turlingdrome [and] hooptiously drangle] me in crinkly]
        bindle wurgles]] ==>
    enddefine;

    define big_to_disk;
        dlocal cucharout = discout('hrummph');
        print_big();
        cucharout(termin);
    enddefine;

    big_to_disk();

Ian.