Conditionally Remove Brackets

Question

I'm trying to create a command with an optional argument using

\newcommand{\Af}[1]{{\mathbf{A}_{(#1)}}

where the argument is a number.

However, I'd like that if no argument is given the bracket were dropped.

Question

How could I define a command which decides whether or not write the brackets?

In addition to the more sophisticated answers below, there are tricks you can do with ifthen.sty. That's what I would have done. — Mars, Aug 20 '13 at 04:08
Related: Different command definitions with and without optional argument — Juan A. Navarro, Aug 21 '13 at 09:01

Tobi · Accepted Answer · 2013-11-26T19:42:02.277

22

Another solution using xparse.

\documentclass{article}

\usepackage{xparse}

\NewDocumentCommand{ \Af }{ o }{%
    A\IfValueT{#1}{_{(#1)}}%
}
\NewDocumentCommand{ \Bf }{ d() }{%
    A\IfValueT{#1}{_{(#1)}}%
}

\begin{document}
no argument: $\Af$

with argument: $\Af[x]$

no argument: $\Bf$

with argument: $\Bf(x)$
\end{document}

result

xparse uses a different (an in my eyes easier and more flexible) syntax to define a command. The second argument of \NewDocumentCommand takes a list defining the arguments, e.g. o for an optional an m for a mandatory argument. With \If(No)Value(TF) you can test whether the argument has a value. (TF) can be T or F to test only one case or TF to differentiate between both the latter case has there arguments, e.g. {#1}{true code}{false code}. With d as argument specifier (see \Bf definition) you can even define the delimiting symbols, () in this case, so the code equals the output even more.

As daleif said you can add a \smash to the subscript to prevent it form affecting the line spacing.

\NewDocumentCommand{ \Afs }{ o }{%
    A\IfValueT{#1}{_{\smash{(#1)}}}%
}

without \smash (exaggerating example using \sum and \left…\right to get flexible parens).
without smash

with \smash
with smash

edited Nov 26 '13 at 19:42

answered Aug 19 '13 at 13:34

Tobi

56,353

It might be an idea to add \smash to the ()'s because they have a tendency to affect line spacing when used in sub- and superscript. – daleif Aug 19 '13 at 14:18
There is also \IfValueT that's perhaps more intuitive than \IfNoValueF, in this case. – egreg Aug 19 '13 at 15:05
@egreg: O … that’s right :-). – Tobi Aug 19 '13 at 15:35
@daleif: I’ll add this. – Tobi Aug 19 '13 at 15:40
1

I would not add the left/right part, too much risk of them ending too large. I would only smash the () not the contents – daleif Aug 19 '13 at 17:35
@daleif: I removed it. I used it to demonstrate the \smash and didn’t think about removing it afterwards … – Tobi Aug 20 '13 at 00:23

score 17 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 19 '13 at 14:02

Since you want an optional argument I think you should use the presence of the argument (rather than it being empty) as the test so

\makeatletter

\newcommand\Af{\@ifnextchar[\@Af\@@Af}

\def\@@Af{\mathbf{A}}
\def\@Af[#1]{\@@Af_{(#1)}}

\makeatother

...

\Af ... \Af[x] ...

daleif · Answer 3 · 2020-08-07T10:59:50.767

14

I usually use etoolbox

Something like (note your example does not use an optional argument)

 \newcommand\Af[1][]{\mathbf{A}\ifblank{#1}{}{_{(#1))}}}

ought to do the trick (untested)

Usage:

$\Af$  will just give $\mathbf{A}$

and

$\Af[n]$ will give $\mathbf{A}_{(n)}$

BTW: One can do even cooler things with the xparse package such as instead of $\Af[n]$ we can use $\Af_{n}$ to get the same result (see the argument type e in the xparse manual), aka we pick up the n from the subscript and wrap () around it.

edited Aug 07 '20 at 10:59

answered Aug 19 '13 at 13:24

daleif

54,450

4

I recommend to add some usage examples as well. – Martin Scharrer Aug 19 '13 at 13:34

Conditionally Remove Brackets

3 Answers3