Reduce gap between anchor points of a tikz picture when using a macro

Question

I am trying to draw a complex node multiple times in a figure and connect lines to them using code like this:

\documentclass{report}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{positioning,shapes,arrows,decorations.markings}


\newcommand\TalentBox{
    \noindent
    \tikz {
        %figure is much more complex than this
        \node[rectangle, fill=black, font=\color{white}, minimum width=10mm, minimum height=10mm] {A}
    }
}

\begin{document}

    \begin{tikzpicture}[remember picture, overlay]
        % multiple calls to the figure with different parameters
        \draw   (  0,  0) node(a){\TalentBox};
        \draw   (  0,  -5) node(b){\TalentBox};
        \draw   (  0,  -10) node(c){\TalentBox};

        % lines between figures have a gap on both ends
        \draw [gray,-,>=stealth, line width=6pt] (a) to (b);

        % As shown here:
        \node [circle,fill=red,   inner sep=0,minimum size=4pt] at (c.south west) {};
        \node [circle,fill=blue,  inner sep=0,minimum size=4pt] at (c.center) {};
        \node [circle,fill=purple,inner sep=0,minimum size=4pt] at (c.north east) {};
        \node [circle,fill=green, inner sep=0,minimum size=4pt] at (c.north) {};
        \node [circle,fill=orange,inner sep=0,minimum size=4pt] at (c.north west) {};
        \node [circle,fill=yellow,inner sep=0,minimum size=4pt] at (c.south) {};
        \node [circle,fill=brown, inner sep=0,minimum size=4pt] at (c.south east) {};
        \node [circle,fill=black, inner sep=0,minimum size=4pt] at (c.east) {};
        \node [circle,fill=pink,  inner sep=0,minimum size=4pt] at (c.west) {};
    \end{tikzpicture}

\end{document}

This is the result:

The problem is that the anchor points are not at the figure but display a gap. Is there a way to avoid that gap?

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 14 '18 at 14:47

You need to set the inner sep to zero: \draw ( 0, 0) node[inner sep=0](a){\TalentBox};

Note that nesting tikzpictures can in some cases lead to problems. These problems can often be avoided by placing the inner tikzpicture in a box (see Joseph Wright's answer to Proper nesting of tikzpicture environments: Reset all PGF values to their defaults), otherwise one needs to use some other technique, such as a pic.

\documentclass{report}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{positioning,shapes,arrows,decorations.markings}


\newcommand\TalentBox{%
    \tikz {
        %figure is much more complex than this
        \node[rectangle, fill=black, font=\color{white}, minimum width=10mm, minimum height=10mm] {A};
    }
}

\begin{document}

    \begin{tikzpicture}[remember picture, overlay]
        % multiple calls to the figure with different parameters
        \draw   (  0,  0) node[inner sep=0] (a) {\TalentBox};
        \draw   (  0,  -5) node[inner sep=0] (b) {\TalentBox};
        \draw   (  0,  -10) node[inner sep=0] (c) {\TalentBox};

        % lines between figures have a gap on both ends
        \draw [gray,-,>=stealth, line width=6pt] (a) to (b);

        % As shown here:
        \node [circle,fill=red,   inner sep=0,minimum size=4pt] at (c.south west) {};
        \node [circle,fill=blue,  inner sep=0,minimum size=4pt] at (c.center) {};
        \node [circle,fill=purple,inner sep=0,minimum size=4pt] at (c.north east) {};
        \node [circle,fill=green, inner sep=0,minimum size=4pt] at (c.north) {};
        \node [circle,fill=orange,inner sep=0,minimum size=4pt] at (c.north west) {};
        \node [circle,fill=yellow,inner sep=0,minimum size=4pt] at (c.south) {};
        \node [circle,fill=brown, inner sep=0,minimum size=4pt] at (c.south east) {};
        \node [circle,fill=black, inner sep=0,minimum size=4pt] at (c.east) {};
        \node [circle,fill=pink,  inner sep=0,minimum size=4pt] at (c.west) {};
    \end{tikzpicture}

\end{document}

Above and beyond, thank you, and thanks for the warning about nesting, I will look into that link! — luctius, Jun 14 '18 at 14:50

Zarko · Answer 2 · 2018-06-14T19:26:05.813

why you use newcommand? to my opinion is better to define node style:

\documentclass{report}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{positioning,shapes,arrows,decorations.markings}

\tikzset{TalentBox/.style = {rectangle, fill=black, font=\color{white},
                             minimum size=10mm, outer sep=0pt,
                             node contents= {A}
                             }
        }

\begin{document}
    \begin{tikzpicture}[remember picture, overlay]
% multiple calls to the figure with different parameters
\draw   (  0,  0) node (a) [TalentBox];
\draw   (  0, -5) node (b) [TalentBox];
% lines between figures have a gap on both ends
\draw [gray,-,>=stealth, line width=6pt] (a) to (b);
    \end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

if your node should contain complex image, it can be drawn on two ways:

as mentioned in comment below with use

 append after command={\pgfextra{ ... code ... }

or by
```
 path picture={ ... code ...}
```
where code is code of your node contents. it can be quite complex (the same as as you intent to define with definition in \newcommand)
another way is define small picture pic and than used it like this:
```
\pic (0,0) (a) {TalentBox}
```
where TalentBox is name od pic definition. it can contain options which you can cal for example as {TalentBox={a}{b}{c}} (in case of three options) or on other ways according how you defined pic.
if above mentioned approach has benefits in comparison to nested tizpicture? it depends on many deciding factors ... (since your content of TalentBox is not known, i can't estimated this)

Probably because, quote, "figure is much more complex than this". — Torbjørn T., Jun 14 '18 at 14:48
@TorbjørnT., it may be a case, however, even complex image can be incorporated to this node style. for example with use append after command={\pgfextra{ ... code ... } :-) — Zarko, Jun 14 '18 at 14:52
Is it possible to use parameters and if/else in a style? if so, is it possible you could add a small example? — luctius, Jun 14 '18 at 14:53
yes, it is possible. i suggest you to ask new question (with example, what you like to obtain) about this. — Zarko, Jun 14 '18 at 15:16

Reduce gap between anchor points of a tikz picture when using a macro

2 Answers2