knuutila@tucos.utu.fi (Timo Knuutila) (02/20/91)
Just encountered the following. Can someone please explain why the text
produces `weird errors' with LaTeX.
=== EXAMPLE TEXT ===
\documentstyle{report}
\begin{document}
$$\begin{array}{l}
[b_1]\\
\ldots\\
[b_m]
\end{array}$$
\end{document}
=== LOG FILE ===
! Missing number, treated as zero.
<to be read again>
b
...
l.8 [b_m]
?
! Illegal unit of measure (pt inserted).
<to be read again>
b
...
l.8 [b_m]
?
! Missing = inserted for \ifdim.
<to be read again>
b
...
l.8 [b_m]
?
! Missing number, treated as zero.
<to be read again>
b
...
l.8 [b_m]
?
! Illegal unit of measure (pt inserted).
<to be read again>
b
...
l.8 [b_m]
=== END OF LOG FILE ===
The following works just fine ({} inserted before [b_m]):
\documentstyle{report}
\begin{document}
$$\begin{array}{l}
[b_1]\\
\ldots\\
{}[b_m]
\end{array}$$
\end{document}
Regards,
Timo Knuutila
knuutila@cs.utu.fisanders-malcolm@CS.YALE.EDU (SANDERS-MALCOLM) (02/21/91)
In article <1991Feb20.145148.13403@polaris.utu.fi> knuutila@tucos.utu.fi (Timo Knuutila) writes: > Just encountered the following. Can someone please explain why the text > produces `weird errors' with LaTeX. > > === EXAMPLE TEXT === > \documentstyle{report} > \begin{document} > $$\begin{array}{l} > [b_1]\\ > \ldots\\ > [b_m] > \end{array}$$ > \end{document} > > === LOG FILE === [much complaining ...] > === END OF LOG FILE === > > The following works just fine ({} inserted before [b_m]): ... If you check out the definition of the latex "\\" command(section C.1.6 in the Latex Manual), you will find that it has an optional length argument and the proper syntax is "\\[len]". As long as the next character after a "\\" is anything other than "[", then there is no problem. If the next character *is* a "[", however, then the following text must be a length followed by "]", or else latex complains. The string, "b_m" is not a lenght, hence, putting "\\[b_m]" causes a problem. Using "\\{}[b_m]" instead fixes it. Malcolm Sanders Applied Physics Yale University sanders@ycc.yale.edu
yxoc@cs.uni-sb.de (Ralf Treinen) (02/21/91)
In article <1991Feb20.145148.13403@polaris.utu.fi> knuutila@tucos.utu.fi (Timo Knuutila) writes:
Just encountered the following. Can someone please explain why the text
produces `weird errors' with LaTeX.
$$\begin{array}{l}
[b_1]\\
\ldots\\
[b_m]
\end{array}$$
=== LOG FILE ===
! Missing number, treated as zero.
The reason is that a specification of an additional vertical space in
brackets may follow the \\ command (see page 153 of the LaTeXbook).
As Timo Knuutila said in his original posting, a {} between the \\ and
the offending brackets solves the problem.
Ralf.
--
Ralf Treinen | email: treinen@cs.uni-sb.de
FB 14 - Informatik (Dept. of CS) |
Universitaet des Saarlandes | phone: +49 681 302 2065
W-6600 Saarbruecken , Germany | fax: +49 681 302 4421krab@iesd.auc.dk (Kresten Krab Thorup) (02/22/91)
>>>>> On 20 Feb 91 14:51:48 GMT, knuutila@tucos.utu.fi (Timo Knuutila) said:
Timo> Just encountered the following. Can someone please explain why the text
Timo> produces `weird errors' with LaTeX.
Timo> === EXAMPLE TEXT ===
Timo> \documentstyle{report}
Timo> \begin{document}
Timo> $$\begin{array}{l}
Timo> [b_1]\\
Timo> \ldots\\
Timo> [b_m]
Timo> \end{array}$$
Timo> \end{document}
Timo> === LOG FILE ===
Timo> ! Missing number, treated as zero.
Timo> <to be read again>
Timo> b
Timo> ...
Timo> l.8 [b_m]
Timo>
Timo> ?
Timo> ! Illegal unit of measure (pt inserted).
Timo> <to be read again>
Timo> b
Timo> ...
Timo> l.8 [b_m]
Timo>
...
... <stuff deleted>
...
Timo> === END OF LOG FILE ===
This is NOT a bug in LaTeX - It's a bug in your input file!
When LaTeX reads the `\\' it can optionally read a dimen in square
braces specifying the interline skip. E.g. you could say:
bloops & bloops \\[1in]
Which would produce one inch of space after this line.
Timo> The following works just fine ({} inserted before [b_m]):
Timo> \documentstyle{report}
Timo> \begin{document}
Timo> $$\begin{array}{l}
Timo> [b_1]\\
Timo> \ldots\\
Timo> {}[b_m]
Timo> \end{array}$$
Timo> \end{document}
That's true - The scan for the [??] stops when LaTeX reads the {}.
/Kresten
--
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LaTeX's not crap --- that's me