Questions tagged [macros]
{macros} is for questions specifically concerning TeX's macro processor. Note that, because TeX uses macros ubiquitously, most questions about code that uses macros are not looking for information about how macros work, and so are not appropriate for this tag.
2,255
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What is the use of percent signs (%) at the end of lines? (Why is my macro creating extra space?)
I see that the code in many packages and examples contains percent signs % at the end of (many) lines. What are they used for? Do they affect the parsing of those lines?
- 10.4k
971
votes
1
answer
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What do \makeatletter and \makeatother do?
Many LaTeX “hacks” begin with \makeatletter and end with \makeatother. What do these commands do?
- 89.8k
640
votes
12
answers
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Space after LaTeX commands
I have a definition:
\newcommand{\arnold}{Arnold Schwarzenegger}
When I refer to it by:
\arnold is a
it is rendered as:
Arnold Schwarzeneggeris a
In order to have a space in front of "is" I ...
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346
votes
5
answers
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What is the difference between Fragile and Robust commands? When and why do we need \protect?
So I've read a few times about this, the “moving arguments” and all that. But what does it really mean? Could someone explain in a few words what is going on at the TeX level, what is the difference ...
- 62.9k
62
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6
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Will two-letter font style commands (\bf , \it , …) ever be resurrected in LaTeX?
I understand that \bf and \it are now obsolete in LaTeX and that \textbf and \textit are proper, as they produce more sophisticated (in particular, cumulative and properly kerned) changes to font ...
- 5,937
89
votes
1
answer
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When to use \LetLtxMacro?
Frequently I see users redefine macros using (for example)
\let\oldmacro\macro% Store \macro in \oldmacro
\renewcommand{\macro}{%
% ...redefined \macro
\oldmacro%
}
and other times they use
\...
- 607k
141
votes
4
answers
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When not to use \ensuremath for math macro?
I have gotten into the habit of using \ensuremath around math components in every macro that I define, so that I can use the same macro inside and outside of math mode. But egreg's comments in \...
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568
votes
4
answers
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What's the difference between \newcommand and \newcommand*?
I just spotted someone use \newcommand* in an answer and realised that I'd never quite sorted out in my head what the star (asterisk) was there for.
(This one is practically impossible to search for ...
- 155k
94
votes
1
answer
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What is the meaning of double pound symbol (number sign, hash character) ##1 in an argument?
I've seen sometimes that people use a double pound sign (##) when defining/using arguments.
What is the difference between the normal argument, #1, and the double sign one, ##1? Are there any ...
- 11.4k
98
votes
10
answers
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Where do I find out how a command/environment is defined?
Say I want to redefine the itemize environment, or make a modified version of it. I want to know how it is currently defined. Where do I find this information? If it's some particular package command, ...
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392
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What is the difference between \def and \newcommand?
Inspired by a question about \let and \def, I have some that essentially all boil down to asking
What are the differences between \def and \newcommand?
In particular, I wonder
Is it possible to ...
- 21.7k
107
votes
7
answers
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Conditional typesetting / build
Let's say I have .tex file which is a set of problems and solutions, of which I want to make two pdf files, one which includes the solutions and one which doesn't. so I need to build the .tex file ...
- 1,655
119
votes
10
answers
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Defining commands/abbreviations that contain numbers
I tend to use \newcommand to define macros for symbols I use often, e.g. \newcommand{\hankel}{H^{(1)}_0}. One inconvenience of this approach is the fact that command names cannot include numbers. ...
- 1,393
34
votes
2
answers
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How to draw commutative diagrams?
Can anyone help me in giving commands for commutative diagrams in LaTeX ? It doesn't seem to appear properly in the LaTeX guides that I have. A command for a simple triangular diagram with arrows ...
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221
votes
5
answers
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When to use \edef, \noexpand, and \expandafter?
I'm quite happy hacking TeX macros and cobbling together bits and pieces from different style files to suit my own ends, but I have a suspicion that my resulting hacks are not quite as elegant as they ...
- 155k