Why Do I have extra lines at the start/end of my definition file?
Definition files look for a 'template' file e.g. consent.def, the system
then replaces any 'reserved words' e.g. &client and then sends it to
the printer.
Now a very common problem is when you get to the end of the document what happens. With the old dot matrix printers you could 'see' what is happening as most of you use laser printers now it is a little more difficult.
Unless you have told the system otherwise it reaches the last line and stops. If there are not enough lines it will just stay in the printer, too many lines and it will print and leave the extra lines. You should tell the system 'OK I have finished - print it' - this is done with the reserved words &np (New Page) or &pa (PAge), or the 'dot' command .PA
One of these should be the LAST thing in the document.
Some common problems (here I will use ---- as the end of the doc)
Correct way:
text text .pa -----
If you have:
text text .pa -----
There are two blank lines after the .pa - in this case the page will be printed but two lines are left in the printer so the next document will start two lines further down
Or:
text text --------
In this case there is no page break so it will just sit there, someone prints something else and you will get the original document with the new one on the same page.
As a rule of thumb, with text definition files, ALWAYS put a .pa on the LAST line of your document.