Guide to LaTeX (4th Edition) (Tools and Techniques

16.3. A model letter customization 361
\newcommand{\ymail}[1]{\renewcommand{\@ymail}{\ymailname: #1}}
\newcommand{\myref}[1]{\renewcommand{\@myref}{\myrefname: #1}}
\newcommand{\subject}[1]{\renewcommand{\@subject}
{\subjectname: #1}}
\newcommand{\internet}[1]{\renewcommand{\@internet}{#1}}
\newcommand{\INTERNET}{@linmpi.mpg.de}
Set the dimensions of the text on the page and its margins. These
numbers are appropriate for A4 paper (which does make the a4paper
option superfluous).
\setlength{\textheight}{215mm} \setlength{\textwidth}{160mm}
\setlength{\oddsidemargin}{0pt} \setlength{\evensidemargin}{0pt}
\setlength{\topmargin}{-20pt} \setlength{\headheight}{12pt}
\setlength{\headsep}{35pt}
The next step is to define some fixed fonts that are needed for the
letterhead. We refer to the fonts with their explicit NFSS attributes; in
this case they are all Computer Modern sans serif fonts in various sizes.
These fonts will not change if totally different families are used for the
body of the letter.
\DeclareFixedFont{\xviisf}{OT1}{cmss}{m}{n}{17}
\DeclareFixedFont{\xsf}{OT1}{cmss}{m}{n}{10}
\DeclareFixedFont{\viiisf}{OT1}{cmss}{m}{n}{8}
The letterhead itself is divided into two fields, the left one containing
the institute name in large letters, the right one the address in a smaller
font. Below the first horizontal line, the left field displays the name and
address of the recipient, positioned to fit in the window of an envelope, and
the right one has the personal data of the letter writer, name, extension,
computer address. The widths of these fields are established.
\newlength{\leftfield} \setlength{\leftfield}{117mm}
\newlength{\rightfield} \setlength{\rightfield}{43mm}
The total width of these two fields equals 160 mm, which is the same as
\textwidth.
Next, we place the institute name and address in several saved boxes.
\newsavebox{\FIRM} \newsavebox{\firmaddress}
\newsavebox{\firm} \newsavebox{\firmreturn}
\sbox{\FIRM}
{\parbox[t]{\leftfield}
{\xviisf MAX--PLANCK--INSTITUT F\"UR AERONOMIE}}
\sbox{\firm}
{\xsf MAX--PLANCK--INSTITUT F\"UR AERONOMIE}
\sbox{\firmreturn}