hsize evaluation

[Walt Burkhard]

Hello,
I am creating a page of shortened lines and want a footline that is
full width (6.5in).  The
footline command is positioned at the beginning of the tex text.   In
fact, the footline command
contains an \hsize6.5in statement but this does not work.   The
footline command is processed
using the shortened width.

How can I postpone the footline evaluation of its hsize statement
until tex creates the footline
output text?

Many thanks in advance.

Walt Burkhard