Re: Do not print higher-level headings with ms NH

On Tuesday, 14 October 2025 02:01:54 GMT Sebastien Peterson-Boudreau wrote:
> Oftentimes when writing documents with numbered headings (using ms), I
> have no need of the top level heading -- at least, not to display it --
> but still want the automatic numbering for deeper headings.
> 
> For example, I will oftentimes settle for something like this:
> 
> 	\" ms input
> 	.NH 1
> 	.NH 2
> 	foo
> 	.NH 2
> 	bar
> 	.NH 1
> 	.NH 2
> 	baz
> 
> 	\" output...
> 	1.
> 	1.1. foo
> 	1.2. bar
> 	2.
> 	2.1. baz
> 
> ...when really I'd like to only have the headings with `foo', `bar', and
> `baz', if that all makes sense.
> 
> So, I was wondering if there was any option to suppress the output of
> the `.NH 1' while still having it increment the number of headings.
> Otherwise, I will have to look into fiddling with whatever internal
> registers NH uses...
> 
> Thanks :D

You could try:-

.de NONH
.  nr nh*hl \\$1
.  nr H1 \\$1
.  nr H2 0
..
.NONH 1
.NH 2
Foo
.NH 2
Bar
.NONH 2
.NH 2
bother
.NH 2
ation
.NH 3
3rd level
.NONH 3
.NH 2
2nd level

Call NONH where you would call ".NH 1". The parameter is the number you want 
to appear in the first level. Can definitely be improved. :-)

Cheers

Deri