[OT] Making a paper ruler to measure the number of lines on a page

[W. eWatson]

I'm looking at a computer program listing that goes on for several dozen
pages. It would be good to have a line number for each line. I'm sure
not going to write them in, so how about a paper ruler that will allow
me to quickly see the number of each line? That way I could say
something like, "See line 6 on page 44."

I thought maybe I could do this by using MS word by creating a one
column table with the row spacing just right to use it as a measure. Put
a number in each cell, and print it out.

Well, it sort of works. Cell heights of 0.2" almost make it work, but
2.24 or 2.23 might be better. However, Word rounds these up or down.

Any ideas?

 

[W. eWatson]

I'm looking at a computer program listing that goes on for several dozen
pages. It would be good to have a line number for each line. I'm sure
not going to write them in, so how about a paper ruler that will allow
me to quickly see the number of each line? That way I could say
something like, "See line 6 on page 44."

I thought maybe I could do this by using MS word by creating a one
column table with the row spacing just right to use it as a measure. Put
a number in each cell, and print it out.

Well, it sort of works. Cell heights of 0.2" almost make it work, but
2.24 or 2.23 might be better. However, Word rounds these up or down.

Any ideas?

I meddled with the font size instead of the cells, and got close enough
to be useable. Nice little one column table that I pushed as far left as
I could.

 

[Suzanne S. Barnhill]

What you really need is a ruler that measures point size, leading, and the
like. I have something called Graphic Toolkit, made by Graphic Products
Corporation, which I bought in an art store years ago (copyright 1989), but
the GPC website shows "no products found" for this (apparently they're into
scrapbooking now). The leading ruler at
http://www.artstuff.net/Staedtler-12-Type-Leading-Ruler_p_220.html would
probably work, though. Or perhaps this:
http://www.artstuff.net/-Accuspec-II-Transparent-Type-Gauge-Specifier-Set_p_211.html,
or
http://www.artstuff.net/C-Thru-Standard-and-Pocket-Type-Gauge-and-Specifier_p_215.html,
or one of the other rulers at that site. Or here's another:
http://www.gwjcompany.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=249.
If you have an art supply store handy, you might inquire about something
similar. I'll just mention that I have been very pleased with C-Thru
products generally.

Once you have measured the leading (space between baselines) in points, then
you can just make a series of numbers, one per line, with the line spacing
set to Exactly x points. Or you could just experiment with different line
spacing till you get a match.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
http://word.mvps.org