[texhax] TeX Query 6: First argument/value of \settabs and the number of columns in the table

[Paul Stanley]

Hi folks,

It seems that the first argument/value passed to zsettabs doesn't 
make much difference to the output. For example with `zsettabs 2 
zcolumns', it is still possible to typeset three columns in the 
"table" and the TeX compiler makes no plaintiff noises.  Here's an example:

%start code
{\hsize = 5cm \settabs 2 \columns
\+column 1&column 2&column 3\cr
\+one&cattle&herd\cr
\+two&fish&school\cr
\+three&lions&pride\cr}

\bye
%end code

produces the same output as:

%start code
{\hsize = 5cm \settabs 3 \columns
\+column 1&column 2&column 3\cr
\+one&cattle&herd\cr
\+two&fish&school\cr
\+three&lions&pride\cr}

\bye
%end code

Any idea what's going on?

Many thanks,
Paul