This example shows the three settings of _ppitch:

s_ppitch=_ppitch // save current pitch
set printer on
_ppitch="pica"
? "John Brown's body: 10 characters per inch"
_ppitch="elite"
? "John Brown's body: 12 characters per inch"
_ppitch="condensed"
? "John Brown's body: 17 characters per inch"
_ppitch=s_ppitch // restore original setting
close printer

_ppitch is not valid for all printers.