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I have a command which formats a piece of text a certain way. Simple example:

\begincommand{\myformat}[1]{\texttt{#1}}

I want to be able to place this command inside other text formatting commmands and have those "outer" commands have no effect on the text enclosed in my command.

If I write

\textbf{Some \myformat{example} text.}
\emph{Some \myformat{example} text.}

I want this to be displayed the same as if I had written

\textbf{Some }\myformat{example}\textbf{ text.}
\emph{Some }\myformat{example}\emph{ text.}

Is it possible to "protect" the formatting on a piece of text in situations like this? So that all text formatting applied within \myformat is applied, but all further formatting is ignored?

spraff
  • 1,501

1 Answers1

4

Redefine \myformat to change the font used to \normalfont before setting new styles/shapes:

enter image description here

\documentclass{article}

\DeclareTextFontCommand{\myformat}{\normalfont\ttfamily}

\begin{document}

\textbf{Some \texttt{example} text.}
\emph{Some \texttt{example} text.}

\textbf{Some \myformat{example} text.}
\emph{Some \myformat{example} text.}

\end{document}

Using \DeclareTextFontCommand as opposed to merely

\newcommand{\myformat}[1]{{\normalfont\ttfamily #1}}

makes the command

  • robust,
  • work in math mode (since the text is placed in a box), and
  • inserts the appropriate italic correction (if needed).
Community
  • 1
Werner
  • 603,163
  • Or, \DeclareTextFontCommand{\myformat}{\normalfont\ttfamily} (this is actually better, since it handles automatic insertion of the italic correction). – GuM Feb 15 '17 at 23:20
  • … and defines a robust command, too! – GuM Feb 15 '17 at 23:27
  • @GustavoMezzetti: That's neat. I'll add it. – Werner Feb 15 '17 at 23:28
  • Yes, it is superior under all respects, I think. Drawback: can be used only in preamble. – GuM Feb 15 '17 at 23:30
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    OK, after the edit I have no longer withheld my upvote ;-) But there’s one more Good Thing about \DeclareTextFontCommand I’d mention: if the amsmath package is loaded, the \myformat command will automagically switch to the correct size when used, for example, in a susbcript (inside math). In other words, in that case the argument is wrapped in a \hbox that, in turn, is wrapped in a \mathchoice. – GuM Feb 16 '17 at 00:55