How to make a line break in a TikZ matrix cell?

Question

Can I use TikZ's own tools to make a line break in the matrix cells or do I have to use a tabular-environment or a \parbox?

MWE (doesn't work, I included the faulty code)

\documentclass[
11pt
]{scrartcl}
\usepackage{
tikz,
relsize,
tgheros
}

\usetikzlibrary{
    calc,trees,shadows,positioning,arrows,chains,
    decorations.pathreplacing,
    decorations.pathmorphing,
    decorations.shapes,
    decorations.text,
    shapes,
    shapes.geometric,
    shapes.symbols,
    matrix,
    patterns,
    intersections,
    fit
}

\pgfdeclarelayer{background layer}
\pgfdeclarelayer{foreground layer}
\pgfsetlayers{background layer,main,foreground layer}

\tikzset{
    >=latex,
    line/.style={draw, thick, ->},
    phase/.style={
        text height=1.5ex,
        text depth=0ex,
        align=left,
        anchor=center,
        %   text width=6cm,
        font=\sffamily\bfseries\small,
        rectangle,
        minimum height=1.0cm,
        draw=black,
        very thick,
        fill=black!40
    }
}

\begin{document}
\begin{center}
\begin{tikzpicture}[font=\sffamily\small,node distance=0.5cm]
\matrix (m) [
matrix of nodes,
nodes in empty cells,
row sep=6mm,
column sep=3mm,
inner sep=7pt
] {
    %
    |[phase]| This should include\\a line break\\
    |[phase], align=center| Here should be a line\\break as well.
};
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{center}
\end{document}

You can include text width , adjust the minimum height and use {This should include a \\ line break} — , Apr 02 '14 at 08:50
possible duplicate of Manual/automatic line breaks and text alignment in TikZ nodes — percusse, Apr 02 '14 at 09:26
@HarishKumar Your comment solved the problem. If you submit your comment as an answer, I'd gladly mark it as a reply. — henry, Apr 02 '14 at 09:28
@percusse The issue here is not a duplicate insofar that matrices made of nodes are usually (or can be, to be exact) written without the braces. Yet in this case, they have to be added to make it work. — henry, Apr 02 '14 at 09:29
@henry True, but I've seen that you are aware of the option passing via |...| syntax hence I thought of the duplicate since that makes the question independent from matrix nodes. — percusse, Apr 02 '14 at 09:32
Oh, interesting. Well so far I only knew that |...| enables on to write text in nodes like this in matrices, but not in usual TikZ graphics. — henry, Apr 02 '14 at 09:41
@henry I have added an answer. Sorry to have missed your comment and the delay. — , Aug 02 '14 at 23:02

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 02 '14 at 23:01

The usual methods used to have a line break inside a tikz node can be applied here also. You can use text width=<dimesion> and if you want a break at some specified point, put a \\ there. But take care to hide it by using braces for otherwise it will be mistaken for the end of row.

\documentclass[
11pt
]{scrartcl}
\usepackage{
tikz,
relsize,
tgheros
}

\usetikzlibrary{
    calc,trees,shadows,positioning,arrows,chains,
    decorations.pathreplacing,
    decorations.pathmorphing,
    decorations.shapes,
    decorations.text,
    shapes,
    shapes.geometric,
    shapes.symbols,
    matrix,
    patterns,
    intersections,
    fit
}

\pgfdeclarelayer{background layer}
\pgfdeclarelayer{foreground layer}
\pgfsetlayers{background layer,main,foreground layer}

\tikzset{
    >=latex,
    line/.style={draw, thick, ->},
    phase/.style={
        %text height=1.5ex,
        %text depth=1.5ex,
        align=left,
        anchor=center,
           text width=6cm,
        font=\sffamily\bfseries\small,
        rectangle,
        minimum height=1.5cm,
        draw=black,
        very thick,
        fill=black!40
    }
}

\begin{document}
\begin{center}
\begin{tikzpicture}[font=\sffamily\small,node distance=0.5cm]
\matrix (m) [
matrix of nodes,
nodes in empty cells,
row sep=6mm,
column sep=3mm,
inner sep=7pt
] {
    %
    |[phase]| {This should include\\a line break}\\
    |[phase, align=center]| {Here should be a line\\break as well}\\
};
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{center}
\end{document}

enter image description here

How to make a line break in a TikZ matrix cell?

MWE (doesn't work, I included the faulty code)

1 Answers1