object-like behaviour in tikz-pgf

[kib2]

Hi,

How can we make an object in tikz-pgf ?
It's easily done in PostScript or SVG, but I had a look at the manual and found nothing about it.

ie suppose and wanted to build a new object "labeled_square" composed of a square with four labels, then manipulate it later with geometrical transformations : is such a behaviour implemented ?

Thanks.

[Till Tantau-3]

Hi!

this is such a common request that perhaps it might be a good idea to  
add something in the manual concering this.

No, there is no special tikz command for defining objects. Actually,  
there is a system-layer command for this, but that is not intended for  
direct use.

The idea is that objects can be defined using TeX-macros, so that  
there is no need for a special command. For the labeled_square  
example, try this:

\begin{tikzpicture}

   \def\labeledsquare{
     \draw (0,0) node [below left] {lower left}
       -- (1,0) node [below right] {below right}
       -- (1,1) node [above right] {foo}
       -- (0,1) node [above left] {bar}
       -- cycle;
   }

   \draw ...;
   \labeledsquare % shows a square
   \begin{scope}[xshift=5cm]
     \labeledsquare % another
   \end{scope}
   \begin{scope}[yshift=5cm]
     \labeledsquare % yet another
   \end{scope}

\end{tikzpicture}


However, I admit that it *might* be a good idea to write some library  
that makes code such as the above simpler.


Hoping this helps,
Till


Am 20.07.2008 um 17:02 schrieb kib2:

>
> Hi,
>
> How can we make an object in tikz-pgf ?
> It's easily done in PostScript or SVG, but I had a look at the  
> manual and
> found nothing about it.
>
> ie suppose and wanted to build a new object "labeled_square"  
> composed of a
> square with four labels, then manipulate it later with geometrical
> transformations : is such a behaviour implemented ?
>
> Thanks.
> --
> View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/object-like-behaviour-in-tikz-pgf-tp18555263p18555263.html
> Sent from the pgf-users mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
>
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--
Prof. Dr. Till Tantau <tantau@...>
www.tcs.uni-luebeck.de/mitarbeiter/tantau


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[kib2]

Thanks for the answer Till Tantau,
in fact that was exactly what I was looking for.

It could be a good idea to put some lines about this in the official manual.
I wasn't aware that I can use TeX macros for this, but I would certainly prefer a special library for that.

Cheers.