TeX command write is not inserting new lines where expected

[Eclair_de_XII]

TL;DR Summary

I'm trying to learn how to use the \write command in order to tell TeX to write files. I want to start a new line with each message inserted. According to TeX for the Impatient, whenever the program encounters the character whose charcode is given by the numerical \newlinechar parameter, the engine starts a new line. Such is not the case for the code below. Why is this?

\documentclass{article}

\newlinechar=`\^^J

\def\first{This is the first sentence.^^J}
\def\second{This is the second sentence.^^J}
\def\third{This is the third sentence.^^J}
\def\nth{You get the idea.^^J}

\def\outfile{outfile.txt}
\newwrite\myout

\begin{document}

\immediate\openout\myout=\outfile
\immediate\write\myout{\first}
\immediate\write\myout{\second}
\immediate\write\myout{\third}
\immediate\write\myout{\nth}
\immediate\closeout\myout

\end{document}

 

[jedishrfu]

Here are some alternative ways to add newlines:

https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/153506/insert-a-new-line-without-newline-command

Sometimes, when something doesn't work as expected, it's time to try an alternative rather than waste too much time figuring out why.

 

[Eclair_de_XII]

The thing is, the commands there, like \newline and \par only typeset new-lines (line-breaks?). I want to write new-lines into an output file, and unfortunately, none of the commands I've tried in that link seem to work for that purpose. Thanks for the input, besides.

 

[MidgetDwarf]

You can always use overleaf and import the ams...

 

[Eclair_de_XII]

I was sort of looking forward to doing this using just PlainTeX.

In any case, are you referring to an ams package that they have hosted on that web-site?

 

[MidgetDwarf]

I was sort of looking forward to doing this using just PlainTeX.

In any case, are you referring to an ams package that they have hosted on that web-site?

Yes. my mistake. I read LaTek instead of TeX for some odd reason.