[Tex/LaTex] Set Margins without the Geometry Package

margins

I am using an irregular (for LaTex) paper size, but common for book manufacturing. The right/left margins I get are about 1/3rd too narrow. How can I change them without using the geometry package? Here's the MWE:

\documentclass[12pt]{book}
\paperwidth=4.25in
\paperheight=6.75in
\pdfpagewidth=4.25in
\pdfpageheight=6.75in
\usepackage{blindtext}

\begin{document}

\Blindtext

\end{document}

I am familiar with the scrbook package as well as memoir, but I have to use the book package and can't use the geometry package.

Also, the 12 point font size shows up as an "unused global option". So, to get that font size, should I use the extfontsizes package or??

Best Answer

If you are using bookest and are unable or unwilling to switch to a newer class or package, you should use its facilities to set the page layout dimensions where possible. You can supplement these with a call to geometry if necessary. bookest requires geometry itself so you do not need a \usepackage{}. You can just say e.g. \geometry{paperwidth=4.25in, paperheight=6.75in, marginparwidth=0pt, marginparsep=0pt} to set the page and layout dimensions after loading the class. You ought not set the page dimensions directly at all since this will confuse geometry's calculations (since it won't know what you've done) and is likely to give unexpected and undesirable results.

12pt is not supported by bookest. Since you already get a lot of bad boxes with a smaller point size, 12pt would make things worse (although there are obviously other things you could do to improve things).

If you are willing and able to use another class, you have more options. For example, book is compatible with a number of different page layout packages including not just geometry, but also e.g. typearea and zwpagelayout. Or a package such as the Koma-script book-type class can be used with its page layout facilities. (typearea is from Koma.) memoir is a further possibility. Some of these classes provide extended font size options. All support 12pt.

It is hard to give more specific advice without knowing which class you are using.

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