[TxMt] Re: Recursive LaTeX macros... (LaTeX question)

[Will Robertson]

On 12/08/2008, at 9:17 AM, Evan Berkowitz wrote:

> I want one function to specify some amount of white space.

Couple of problems with your macro :)
Here's a working version:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{ifthen}
\begin{document}
\newcommand{\indentLength}{3}
\newcommand{\indentUnit}{em}
\newcommand{\indentFull}{\indentLength\indentUnit}
\newcommand{\indents}[1]{%
   \ifthenelse{\numexpr#1\relax>0}{%
     \hspace{\indentFull}%
     \indents{#1-1}}{}%
}
hello \indents{3} hello
\end{document}

The ifthen package doesn't provide \greaterthan. Also, you need that  
\numexpr in order to evaluate the #1-1 expression before it's used in  
the conditional. Recursion with the ifthen package is a bit awkward :)  
Also note that there's a \whiledo command in ifthen, as well.

Anyway, there's an easier way to do what you're after:

\newlength\IND
\setlength\IND{3em}
hello \hspace*{3\IND} hello

I.e., you could use something like \newcommand\indents[1] 
{\hspace*{#1\IND}}.

Hope this helps,
Will
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