.th BLOCK VI 8/5/77
.sh NAME
block \- block character generator
.sh SYNOPSIS
.bd block
spacing plotchar line1 line2 ...
.sh DESCRIPTION
.it Block
converts its line arguments into 6x5 dot-matrix
format, and prints them on the standard output.
The matrix is constructed using `plotchar' as the print element;
each block-character is separated by `spacing' blanks.
Thus
.s3
.dt
	block 1 x "Que pasa," " Baby ?"
.s3
prints
.s3
.ci +5
.nf
.dt
.cs R 18
	xxxxx x   x xxxxx       xxxx    x    xxxx   x         
	x   x x   x x           x   x  x x  x      x x        
	x   x x   x xxx         xxxx  xxxxx  xxx  xxxxx       
	x x x x   x x           x     x   x     x x   x   xx  
	xxxxx  xxx  xxxxx       x     x   x xxxx  x   x   xx  
	    x                                            x    
	
	      xxxx    x   xxxx  x   x        xxx  
	      x   x  x x  x   x  x x        x   x 
	      xxxx  xxxxx xxxx    x           xx  
	      x   x x   x x   x   x           x   
	      xxxx  x   x xxxx    x           x   
.cs R
                                          

.fi
.s2
.sh DIAGNOSTICS
Block without arguments prints its argument conventions.
.sh BUGS
There are no lower case characters;
all characters are treated as though upper case.
Also, non-printing ASCII characters are treated as blanks.
.s3
It is not a bug, but to use `*' as the plotchar you must quote it,
i.e.
.s3
.dt
	block 2 \e* Boo!