LaTeX Macro Spacing Tool
Uploaded by
Jenkeiz KhanLaTeX Macro Spacing Tool
Uploaded by
Jenkeiz KhanThe xspace package
David Carlisle
1997/10/13
Abstract
\xspace should be used at the end of a macro designed to be used mainly
in text. It adds a space unless the macro is followed by certain punctuation
characters.
Introduction
After \newcommand{\gb}{Great Britain\xspace}
\gb is a very nice place to live.
Great Britain is a very nice place to live.
\gb, a small island off the coast of France.
Great Britain, a small island off the coast of France.
\xspace saves the user from having to type \ or {} after most occurrences of
a macro name in text. However if either of these constructions follows \xspace, a
space is not added by \xspace. This means that it is safe to add \xspace to the
end of an existing macro without making too many changes in your document.
Sometimes \xspace may make the wrong decision, and add a space when it
is not required. In these cases follow the macro with {}, as this has the effect of
suppressing the space.
Note that this package must be loaded after any language (or other) packages
that make punctuation characters active.
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\xspace
hpackagei
\xspace just looks ahead, and then calls \@xspace.
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\@xspace
The Macros
\DeclareRobustCommand\xspace{\futurelet\@let@token\@xspace}
If the next token is one of a specified list of characters, do nothing, otherwise add
a space. If you often use a different punctuation character, add the appropriate
line (do not forget the \fi at the end!)
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\def\@xspace{%
\ifx\@let@token\bgroup\else
\ifx\@let@token\egroup\else
\ifx\@let@token\/\else
This
file has version number v1.06, last revised 1997/10/13.
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\ifx\@let@token\ \else
\ifx\@let@token~\else
\ifx\@let@token.\else
\ifx\@let@token!\else
\ifx\@let@token,\else
\ifx\@let@token:\else
\ifx\@let@token;\else
\ifx\@let@token?\else
\ifx\@let@token/\else
\ifx\@let@token\else
\ifx\@let@token)\else
\ifx\@let@token-\else
\ifx\@let@token\@xobeysp\else
\ifx\@let@token\space\else
\ifx\@let@token\@sptoken\else
\space
When I first wrote this there were about half a dozen \fi here, and I thought that
was bad enough.
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\fi\fi\fi\fi\fi\fi\fi\fi\fi\fi\fi\fi\fi\fi\fi\fi\fi\fi}
h/packagei
