1

It is fairly easy to draw a dotted line from the north to the south coordinate of a fitted node:

\documentclass{standalone}

\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{matrix}
\usetikzlibrary{fit,shapes.geometric,calc,matrix,math}


\begin{document}


\begin{tikzpicture}
    \matrix(m) [matrix of nodes, row sep=1ex, column sep=1ex, nodes in empty cells, nodes={draw, shape=rectangle,minimum height=5ex, anchor=center, minimum width=5ex},ampersand replacement=&] {
            a  &   1    &   x  &  o &     2     \
            b  &        &      &    &     3     \
            c  &        &      &    &     y     \
            d  &        &      &    &     4     \
            e  &   5    &   v  &  p &     w     \
    };
    \node[fit= (m-2-2.north west) (m-4-4.south east), draw=red,inner sep=0ex] (x)  {};
    \draw[loosely dotted] (x.north) -- (x.south);
\end{tikzpicture}


\end{document}

enter image description here

It would be much better if I could fit a custom dot pattern by choosing the size and spacing of the dots especially if this was predefined as a style. This style could be part of the \node[fit...] command instead of requiring a \draw command.

Ted Black
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  • Would you like either to fill all the fit node with a pattern or to draw only a line like in the current answer or to draw the contour of the fit node with a customized pattern? – CarLaTeX Nov 21 '21 at 19:21
  • Just a line from north to south as in the current answer. Apologies for not being clear. – Ted Black Nov 21 '21 at 19:48
  • Don't worry, so you already have the correct answer :) – CarLaTeX Nov 21 '21 at 19:49

1 Answers1

2

The style dotted pattern was defined using the code from dotted-lines-in-tikz-with-round-dots

You can choose the color, the radius of the dots and their separation (first picture) or the style defined as default will be applied (second picture).

b

\documentclass{article}

\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{matrix}
\usetikzlibrary{fit,shapes.geometric,calc,matrix,math}
\usetikzlibrary{decorations.markings}


%%https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/101262/dotted-lines-in-tikz-with-round-dots
\pgfkeys{/tikz/.cd,
    circle color/.initial=black,
    circle color/.get=\circlecolor,
    circle color/.store in=\circlecolor,
}


\tikzset{dotted pattern/.style args={#1 and #2}{%
        postaction=decorate,
        decoration={
            markings,
            mark=
            between positions 0 and 1 step #2
            with
            {\fill[radius=#1,\circlecolor] (0,0) circle;}
        }
    },
    dotted pattern/.default={0.5pt and 1mm},
}


\begin{document}


\begin{tikzpicture}
    \matrix(m) [matrix of nodes, row sep=1ex, column sep=1ex, nodes in empty cells, nodes={draw, shape=rectangle,minimum height=5ex, anchor=center, minimum width=5ex},ampersand replacement=&] {
        a  &   1    &   x  &  o &     2     \
        b  &        &      &    &     3     \
        c  &        &      &    &     y     \
        d  &        &      &    &     4     \
        e  &   5    &   v  &  p &     w     \
    };
    \node[fit= (m-2-2.north west) (m-4-4.south east), draw=red,inner sep=0ex] (x)  {};
    \path [circle color=red, dotted pattern=1.2pt and 2mm]  (x.north) -- (x.south); 
\end{tikzpicture}


\bigskip


\begin{tikzpicture}
    \matrix(m) [matrix of nodes, row sep=1ex, column sep=1ex, nodes in empty cells, nodes={draw, shape=rectangle,minimum height=5ex, anchor=center, minimum width=5ex},ampersand replacement=&] {
        a  &   1    &   x  &  o &     2     \
        b  &        &      &    &     3     \
        c  &        &      &    &     y     \
        d  &        &      &    &     4     \
        e  &   5    &   v  &  p &     w     \
    };
    \node[fit= (m-2-2.north west) (m-4-4.south east), draw=red,inner sep=0ex] (x)  {};
    \path [dotted pattern]  (x.north) -- (x.south); 
\end{tikzpicture}


\end{document}
Simon Dispa
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