How can I automate file inclusion using arguments?

Question

I am working on a collection of books that uses content from other files. I want to have each reference in a file to avoid redundant content and to make it easier to review and correct the content.

Let me explain, I have created a file for each reference number, for example:

CEC/n/0001.tex
CEC/n/0002.tex
CEC/n/0003.tex
CEC/n/0004.tex
CEC/n/0005.tex
CEC/n/0006.tex
CEC/n/0007.tex
....
CEC/n/9999.tex

Suppose in a part of one of my books I need to include the numbers 1 to 5, the number 22 and the number 17. I am currently doing the following, which works:

\input{../../CEC/n/0001}
\input{../../CEC/n/0002}
\input{../../CEC/n/0003}
\input{../../CEC/n/0004}
\input{../../CEC/n/0005}
\input{../../CEC/n/0022}
\input{../../CEC/n/0017}

Is there a way to simplify it?

My idea is to be able to receive an array of numbers [1,2,3,4,5,22,17] or [1 to 5 AND 22 AND 17] and use it to include each of those files by their names? I need to include many reference combinations like above in different parts of my volumes and I want to simplify this task.

I'm sorry I can't create a minimal, verifiable example due to file inclusion.

It many of these cases it is better to use an external program to generate the source code for you. For example via python or similar. It is a lot easier to provide command line interface for those than it is for latex and friends. — daleif, Sep 27 '21 at 14:20

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Sep 27 '21 at 15:17

The following set of macros does the job, provided the file names have a common structure. The main command is

\multiinput{<prefix>}{<format>}{<list>}[<post action>]

In your case it would be

\multiinput{../../CEC/n/}{0000}{1-5,22,17}

Code, where in the second case I added \par as the post action to be performed when the file has been input.

\documentclass{article}
\ExplSyntaxOn
\NewDocumentCommand{\multiinput}{mmm+O{}}
 {% #1 = fixed part
  % #2 = format for the variable part
  % #3 = list
  % #4 = post action
  \cedano_multiinput:nnnn { #1 } { #2 } { #3 } { #4 }
 }
\seq_new:N \l__cedano_multiinput_items_seq
\seq_new:N \l__cedano_multiinput_interval_seq
\cs_new_protected:Nn \cedano_multiinput:nnnn
 {
  % split the list at commas
  \seq_set_split:Nnn \l__cedano_multiinput_items_seq {,} { #3 }
  \seq_map_inline:Nn \l__cedano_multiinput_items_seq
   {
    __cedano_multiinput_item:nnnn { #1 } { #2 } { ##1 } { #4 }
   }
 }
\cs_new_protected:Nn __cedano_multiinput_item:nnnn
 {
  \seq_set_split:Nnn \l__cedano_multiinput_interval_seq { - } { #3 }
  \int_compare:nTF { \seq_count:N \l__cedano_multiinput_interval_seq = 1 }
   {% just one item
    __cedano_multiinput_file:nnnn { #1 } { #2 } { #3 } { #4 }
   }
   {% multiple files
    \int_step_inline:nnn
     { \seq_item:Nn \l__cedano_multiinput_interval_seq { 1 } } % start
     { \seq_item:Nn \l__cedano_multiinput_interval_seq { 2 } } % end
     { __cedano_multiinput_file:nnnn { #1 } { #2 } { ##1 } { #4 } }
   }
 }
\cs_new_protected:Nn __cedano_multiinput_file:nnnn
 {
  \file_input:n { #1 __cedano_multiinput_pad:nn { #2 } { #3 } } #4
 }
\cs_new:Nn __cedano_multiinput_pad:nn
 {
  \prg_replicate:nn { \tl_count:n { #1 } - \tl_count:n { #2 } } { 0 } #2
 }
\ExplSyntaxOff
\begin{document}
\textbf{From 1 to 10}
\multiinput{inputs/}{0000}{1-10}
\bigskip
\textbf{Selection}
\multiinput{inputs/}{0000}{1-2,4,7,9-10}[\par]
\end{document}

I created in the subdirectory inputs the files 0001.tex to 0010.tex that contain

I'm number XXXX

Thanks for your reply. It would be just what I need, but I can't make it work. I have reproduced same code, creating the files in an input folder but it doesn't recognize the commands... ! Undefined control sequence. l.3 \ExplSyntaxOn and ! Undefined control sequence. l.5 \NewDocumentCommand {\multiinput}{mmm+O{}} with the message: The control sequence at the end of the top line of your error message was never \def'ed. If you have misspelled it (e.g., '\hobx'), type `I' and the correct spelling (e.g., 'I\hbox'). Otherwise just continue, and I'll forget about whatever was undefined — A. Cedano, Sep 28 '21 at 08:04
@A.Cedano In this case you need to add \usepackage{xparse} — egreg, Sep 28 '21 at 08:35
I added that and I'm having the same error. If I try only this \multiinput{inputs/}{0000}{1-10}and I open the PDF generated, i have one line: 110 and if I try only this: \multiinput{inputs/}{0000}{1-2,4,7,9-10}[\par] the PDF have these lines: 12 and I’m number 0004 and I’m number 0007 and 910 in both cases the error Undefined control sequence persists — A. Cedano, Sep 28 '21 at 08:50
I'm using: TeX 3.14159265 (TeX Live 2017/Debian) into Ubuntu 18. The IDE I'm using is TeXstudio 3.1.2 — A. Cedano, Sep 28 '21 at 10:13
I have everything updated using this command: sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y Is there any other way to update to the latest version of TexLive? — A. Cedano, Sep 28 '21 at 10:24

How can I automate file inclusion using arguments?

1 Answers1