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It is well known that in LaTeX $ABCD$ is different from $\mathit{ABCD}$ as the former represents the multiplication of four variables while the latter represents some single object such as a rectangle.

In solid geometry, suppose there is a cuboid ABCD-A1B1C1D1. Which one of the following is preferred/recommended? From the output it seems that \mathit is unnecessary for A1B1C1D1.

\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}

\begin{itemize}
  \item $\mathit{ABCD}$-$\mathit{A_1B_1C_1D_1}$
  \item $\mathit{ABCD}$-$\mathit{A_{\mathnormal{1}}B_{\mathnormal{1}}C_{\mathnormal{1}}D_{\mathnormal{1}}}$
  \item $\mathit{ABCD}$-$A_1B_1C_1D_1$
\end{itemize}

\end{document}

enter image description here

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8
  • \mathit{A}_{1} is right; \mathit{A_{\mathnormal{1}}} is definitely wrong. Commented yesterday
  • @egreg Then the input is something like $\mathit{ABCD}$-$\mathit{A}_1\mathit{B}_1\mathit{C}_1\mathit{D}_1$. Well, quote tedious :-( Commented yesterday
  • Any fast way to simplify the input procedure?@egreg Commented yesterday
  • make a macro? \newcommand\cuboid[5][1]{\mathit{#2}_{#1}\mathit{#3}_{#1}\mathit{#4}_{#1}\mathit{#5}_{#1}} so \cuboid{A}{B}{C}{D} \cuboid[3]{E}{F}{G}{H} or something? Commented yesterday
  • 1
    @Stephen What kind of output are you planning to get? Is it just on the same vein or are there different forms? Commented yesterday

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
2

You can process the input:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}

\ExplSyntaxOn

\NewDocumentCommand{\cuboid}{m}
 {
  \stephen_cuboid:n {#1}
 }

\cs_new_protected:Nn \__stephen_cuboid_sep: { \mbox{\normalfont-} }

\cs_new_protected:Nn \stephen_cuboid:n
 {
  \tl_map_function:nN {#1} \__stephen_cuboid_process:n
 }
\cs_new_protected:Nn \__stephen_cuboid_process:n
 {
  \str_case:nnF {#1}
   {
    {0}{\sb{0}}
    {1}{\sb{1}}
    {2}{\sb{2}}
    {3}{\sb{3}}
    {4}{\sb{4}}
    {5}{\sb{5}}
    {6}{\sb{6}}
    {7}{\sb{7}}
    {8}{\sb{8}}
    {9}{\sb{9}}
    {-}{\__stephen_cuboid_sep:}
   }
   { \mathit{#1} }
 }

\ExplSyntaxOff

\begin{document}

$\cuboid{ABCD-A1B1C1D1} \ne \cuboid{ABCD-EFGH}$

\end{document}

output

You can freely use spaces in the input, so

\cuboid{A B C D - A1 B1 C1 D1}

would print the same.

If I replace - with -- in the definition of \__stephen_cuboid_sep:, the output becomes

output 2

You may want to try also

\cs_new_protected:Nn \__stephen_cuboid_sep: {{-}}
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4

ABCD although written that way isn't really a single identifier it is the concatenation of the identifiers of the corners so $ABCD$ seems the natural markup simimilarly $A_1B_1C_1D_1$ or better (but equivalent) $A_{1}B_{1}C_{1}D_{1}$ for the subscripted forms.

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