A definition list is a special list that pairs a term and its description.
To create a definition list, use the definition-list tag (:dl.) to begin the list and :edl. to end it. Identify each term in the list with a definition-term tag (:dt.) and each description with a definition-description tag (:dd.).
Column Width for Definition Terms: :dl. has several attributes that let you control the appearance of definition lists. The tsize= attribute specifies the width, in character spaces, for the term column. If tsize= is not specified, the default width for the term column is 10 character spaces.
Definition-List Headings: If you want headings for the columns of terms and definitions, use the definition-term heading tag (:dthd.) to identify the heading for the terms and the definition-description tag (:ddhd.) to identify the heading for the definition descriptions.
Compact Definition List: The compact attribute produces a list with no blank lines.
The following example shows the tagging for a compact definition list with headings for the terms and descriptions. It also shows the use of the tsize= attribute.
Input Example
:dl compact tsize=13. :dthd.:hp2.Key:ehp2. :ddhd.:hp2.Purpose:ehp2. :dt.Insert key :dd.Switches between insert and replace modes. :dt.Home key :dd.Moves the cursor to the beginning of the current line. :dt.End key :dd.Moves the cursor to the end of the current line. :edl.
Formatted Output
Key
Specifying where the Definition Descriptions Start: The break= attribute defines where the descriptions appear in relation to their terms:
break=none
The following example shows the tagging that starts the definition descriptions on the line below the term.
Input Example
:dl break=all tsize=3.:dt.:hp2.Insert key:ehp2. :dd.Switches between insert and replace modes. :dt.:hp2.Home key:ehp2. :dd.Moves the cursor to the beginning of the current line. :dt.:hp2.End key:ehp2. :dd.Moves the cursor to the end of the current line. :edl.
Formatted Output
Insert key
A definition description can apply to more than one definition term; that is, you can specify more than one :dt. in the sequence before specifying a matching :dd..
The following example shows the tagging for a definition list with descriptions that apply to more than one term.
Input Example
:dl compact break=fit tsize=20.:dthd.:hp2.Grocery Item:ehp2. :ddhd.:hp2.Type:ehp2. :dt.:hp2.Orange:ehp2. :dt.:hp2.Apple:ehp2. :dd.A fruit. :dt.:hp2.Carrot:ehp2. :dt.:hp2.Celery:ehp2. :dd.A vegetable. :edl.
Formatted Output
Grocery Item