---
name: "yodlletter"
section: "7"
platform: "linux"
package: "yodl"
version: "4.05.01-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/yodlletter"
---

# yodlletter(7)

Yodl’s \`letter’ document type

## NAME

yodlletter - Yodl’s \`letter’ document type

## SYNOPSIS

**letter(language)(date)(subject)(opening)(salutation)(author)**

The **letter** document type was implemented to write LaTeX letters.

## DESCRIPTION

The **letter** document type was specifically implemented to write LaTeX letters, using LaTeX’s **brief.cls** document class. It is available only for the LaTeX ([**yodl2latex**(1)](/yodl2latex/1.md)) converter.

This manual page briefly describes **Yodl**’s  **letter** document type. This document type is specific enough that it warrants a separate manpage.

**letter** documents do not allow you to use the \`standard’ sectioning commands (e.g., **sect**() and **subsect**()).  You can, however, use macros that are normally used within such sections, such as **description**(), **itemization**(), **bf**() or **em**().

Several specific macros, to be used in the *preamble*, are available for the **letter** document type. They are:

- o

  **AfourEnlarged()**: Enlarges the usable height of A4 paper by 2 cm.: the top margin is reduced by 2 cm. See also **PageEnlarged**.

- o

  **letteraddenda(type)(value)**: Adds an addendum at the end of a letter.  *type* should be *bijlagen* (i.e., *appendices*), *cc* or *ps*. Use nl() within the *value* section if multiple addenda of a certain *type* are used.

- o

  **letteradmin(yourdate)(yourref)**: Puts *yourletterfrom* and *yourreference* elements in the letter. If left empty, two dashes are inserted.

- o

  **letterfootitem(name)(value)**: Puts a footer at the bottom of letter-pages. Up to three will usually fit. For example,

- o

  **letterreplyto(name)(address)(zip city)**: Defines the \`reply to’ address.

- o

  **letterto(element)**: Adds *element* as an additional line to the address of the addressee. Use one  element for each line of the addressee’s address. Up to five lines will usually fit. A sixth line may be squeezed in, if necessary.

- o

  **PageEnlarged(up)(height)(left)(width)**:  Enlarges the usable width and height of printed pages: the first line printed on paper is moved up by \`up’ units, the usable paper height is enlarged by \`height’ units, the left margin is moved to the left by t(left) units, and the usable paper width is enlarged by (width) units.  E.g., A4 pages are by default using relatively small text blocks. Instead the pages can be used more efficiently by specifying .

The **letter**) macro itself requires the following arguments:

- o

  **language**: select *english*, *dutch*, or another language supported by the **babel.sty** style;

- o

  **date**: the letter’s date. Use your own date-convention. The text specified here will be used as the letter’s date;

- o

  **subject**: a short indication as to why you wrote the letter

- o

  **opening**: the letter’s opening, e.g., *Dear Linus,*;

- o

  **salutation**: the letter’s closing phrase, e.g., *Kind* *regards,*;

- o

  **author**: the name of the letter’s author. *nl()* macros can be used here, but the **brief** class will also restrict the width of the author-lines by itself.

## SEE ALSO

[**latex**(1)](/latex/1.md),  [**yodl**(1)](/yodl/1.md),  [**yodlbuiltins**(7)](/yodlbuiltins/7.md),  [**yodlconverters**(1)](/yodlconverters/1.md),  [**yodlmacros**(7)](/yodlmacros/7.md),  [**yodlmanpage**(7)](/yodlmanpage/7.md), [**yodlpost**(1)](/yodlpost/1.md),  [**yodlstriproff**(1)](/yodlstriproff/1.md),  [**yodltables**(7)](/yodltables/7.md),  [**yodlverbinsert**(1)](/yodlverbinsert/1.md).

## BUGS

\-

## AUTHOR

Frank B. Brokken (f.b.brokken@rug.nl),