\startcomponent ma-cb-en-units

\enablemode[**en-us]

\project ma-cb

\startchapter[reference=units,title=Units]

\index{units}
\index[siunit]{SI--unit}

\Command{\tex{unit}}

To force yourself to use dimensions and units consistently throughout your
document you can use the \type{\unit} command. Let's give a few examples:

\startbuffer
\unit{meter per square meter}
\unit{cubic meter per sec}
\unit{square milli meter per inch}
\unit{centi liter per sec}
\unit{meter inverse sec}
\unit{newton per square inch}
\unit{newton times meter per square sec}
\stopbuffer

\typebuffer

It looks like a lot of typing but it does guarantee a consistent use of units.
The command \type{\unit} also prevents linebreaking between number and unit.
The examples above come out as:

\startnarrower
\startlines
\getbuffer
\stoplines
\stopnarrower

You can add your own units with:

\shortsetup{registerunit}

and set them up with:

\shortsetup{setupunit}

\startbuffer
\registerunit[unit][inhab=inhabitants] \setupunittext[inhabitants=inh]
\registerunit[unit][north=north]       \setupunittext[north= N]
\registerunit[unit][east=east]         \setupunittext[east= E]

Hasselt is part of the municipality of Zwartewaterland
(coordinates \unit {52 degrees 35 arcminute north},
\unit {6 degrees 5 arcminute east}). Its area is about
\unit {88 square kilometer} (land \unit {83 square kilom}
and water \unit{5 square km}). As of 1st Augustus 2013 the
population is 22.201 that is \unit {268 inhab per square kilo
meter}).
\stopbuffer

In the example below you can see some new units and the non-consistent
use of \unit{kilo meter}.

\typebuffer

This results in:

\getbuffer

The \type{\unit} command also allows you to align rows of units in a column.

\startbuffer
\bTABLE
\bTR \bTD \bf Street              \eTD \bTD \bf Length         \eTD \eTR
\bTR \bTD Ridderstraat            \eTD \bTD \unit{_,160 meter} \eTD \eTR
\bTR \bTD Prinsengracht           \eTD \bTD \unit{_,240 meter} \eTD \eTR
\bTR \bTD Kalverstraat            \eTD \bTD \unit{_,_60 meter} \eTD \eTR
\bTR \bTD H.A.W. van de Vechtlaan \eTD \bTD \unit{1,250 meter} \eTD \eTR
\bTR \bTD Meestersteeg            \eTD \bTD \unit{_,_45 meter} \eTD \eTR
\eTABLE
\stopbuffer

When you type:

\typebuffer

It will generate a well aligned second column:

\bgroup
\setupTABLE[frame=off,offset=0pt]
\setupTABLE[c][1][width=4.5cm]

\getbuffer
\egroup

Please refer to the manual \goto {\em Units} [ url(manual:units) ] for more
information and details.

\stopchapter

\stopcomponent
