Move short keywords to the left of the text in box, not marginpar/marginnote

Question

I am trying to create a command that moves (short) keywords to the left side of the text. They should be "right" aligned" with a fixed separation between the keyword and the text.

The command below does what I want, but only if the text is indented or not - not with a combination, e.g. after the start of a new section.

Can I check whether the note is in an indented paragaph \hspace{\parindent} and issue conditionally? Or is there a better approach? I don't want to use the marginnote package (or the marginpar in general) for this.

\documentclass{scrartcl}

\newcommand{\parnote}[1]{%
\begingroup
\setlength{\fboxsep}{0pt}
    \hspace*{0pt}\llap{%
        \framebox[2cm][r]{% normally use makebox
            #1%
%           \hspace{\parindent}%
            \hspace{8pt}%
        }%
    }%
\endgroup
\ignorespaces
}

\begin{document}

\section{Dummy}

\parnote{Keyword 1} This paragraph has no indent.

\bigskip

\parnote{Other Word} This paragraph has an indent.

\end{document}

enter image description here

@egreg You mean not for section titles, tables etc.? Yes, I think so for now. — Jörg, May 02 '14 at 11:20

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered May 02 '14 at 23:48

The tabto package is ideal for this sort of thing. Best of all, the \tabto can be issued at any time, even partway through the line. Here I demonstrate with the box even further left than an \llap, but it could be made similar by doing the \tabto to -2cm, rather than -1 in.

\documentclass{scrartcl}
\usepackage{tabto}
\newcommand\mnote[1]{\tabto*{-1in}\framebox[2cm][r]{#1 }\tabto{\TabPrevPos}}
\begin{document}
\section{Dummy}
this is a test\mnote{item}. continue\ldots

\bigskip

And now\mnote{item 2}, for another test.
\end{document}

enter image description here

Thanks! I was not aware of the tabto package, but it looks really useful! — Jörg, May 03 '14 at 21:59

score 1 · Answer 2 · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:34

Here is one option using zref's savepos module to position the box flush with the left margin. Some guidance it taken from I want to indent the next line by an exactly specified position:

enter image description here

\documentclass{scrartcl}
\usepackage{zref-savepos}
\makeatletter
% \zsaveposx is defined since 2011/12/05 v2.23 of zref-savepos
\@ifundefined{zsaveposx}{\let\zsaveposx\zsavepos}{}
\newcounter{hposcnt}
\renewcommand*{\thehposcnt}{hpos\number\value{hposcnt}}
\newcommand*{\parnote}[1]{% \parnote{<stuff>}
  \leavevmode%
  \stepcounter{hposcnt}%
  \zsaveposx{\thehposcnt}%
  \zref@refused{\thehposcnt}%
  \kern\dimexpr-\zposx{\thehposcnt}sp+1in+\oddsidemargin\relax%
  {\setlength{\fboxsep}{0pt}%
   \llap{\framebox[3cm][r]{\strut#1\hspace{8pt}}}}%
  \kern\dimexpr-1in-\oddsidemargin+\zposx{\thehposcnt}sp\relax%
  \ignorespaces
}
\makeatother

\begin{document}

\section{Dummy}


\parnote{Keyword 1} This paragraph has no indent.

\bigskip

\parnote{Other Word} This paragraph has an indent.

\bigskip

\noindent\parnote{Final word} This paragraph has an indent.

\end{document}

Since zref uses "labels" to identify the location, this requires at least two compiles until the references settle.

Move short keywords to the left of the text in box, not marginpar/marginnote

2 Answers2