expanding variable inside picture environment

Question

(this version of this question is highly edited based on suggestions)

I thought to quickly create a fax cover sheet last night and, quickly creating one, I ran into a problem I can't figure out so I thought I'd ask around. First, the structure: I have 2 files: one is the style file and the other is the file with the specific fax info. In the style file I've created some variables to hold data that is specified in the info file. Here is the style file:

\newcommand{\myfaxdate}[1]{\newcommand{\@myfaxdate}{#1}}
\newcommand\myfaxto[1]{\newcommand{\@myfaxto}{#1}}
\newcommand\myfaxfrom[1]{\newcommand{\@myfaxfrom}{#1}}
\newcommand\myfaxre[1]{\newcommand{\@myfaxre}{#1}}
\newcommand\myfaxnumpages[1]{\newcommand{\@myfaxnumpages}{#1}}
\newcommand\myfaxtelnum[1]{\newcommand{\@myfaxtelnum}{#1}}
\newcommand\myfaxnum[1]{\newcommand{\@myfaxnum}{#1}}
\newcommand\myfaxcomments[1]{\newcommand{\@myfaxcomments}{#1}}

\newsavebox{\faxcover}
\savebox{\faxcover}{%
 \put(0,7){\makebox{\bfseries Date:} \@myfaxdate} 
  \put(0,6){\makebox{\bfseries To:} \@myfaxto}
  \put(0,5){\makebox{\bfseries From:} \@myfaxfrom}
  \put(0,4){\makebox{\bfseries Re:} \@myfaxre}
  \put(0,3){\makebox{\bfseries Comments:} \@myfaxnumpages}
  \put(0,2){\makebox{\bfseries From:} \@myfaxtelnum}
  \put(0,1){\makebox{\bfseries Re:} \@myfaxnum}
  \put(0,0){\makebox{\bfseries Comments:} \@myfaxcomments}
} 

\newcommand{\makefax}{%
 \begin{picture}(10,10)
   \put (0,0){\usebox\faxcover}
 \end{picture}
}

Here's the other file (the top-level file)

\documentclass[10pt]{report}
\usepackage{./myfax}
\begin{document}

\myfaxdate{09-28-2011}
\myfaxto{Ozymandius, King of Kings}
\myfaxfrom{Bev}
\myfaxre{Two vast and trunkless legs of stone}
\myfaxnumpages{3 counting the cover sheet}
\myfaxtelnum{(516) 676-4099}
\myfaxnum{(800) 123-4567}
\myfaxcomments{blah not blee}

\makefax

\end{document}

When I compile, I get an error telling me that \@myfaxdate is an undefined control sequence. I should add that the purpose of dividing into 2 files is because I want to create my own fax style that I may want others in my org to use (maybe). This will simplify it so all they have to know how to do is to fill in some blanks in the main file.

Answer 1

Try this:

\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
\newcommand{\myfaxdate}[1]{#1}
  \begin{picture}(5,5)
    \put(30,30){Date: \myfaxdate{9-12-2011}}
  \end{picture}
\end{document}

Answer 2

The box in \savebox is constructed at "save" time, not at "use" time. By that time the commands have not yet been defined.

Try not using \savebox and \usebox at all:

\newcommand{\makefax}{%
  \begin{picture}(10,10)
    \put(0,7){\makebox{\bfseries Date:} \@myfaxdate} 
    \put(0,6){\makebox{\bfseries To:} \@myfaxto}
    \put(0,5){\makebox{\bfseries From:} \@myfaxfrom}
    \put(0,4){\makebox{\bfseries Re:} \@myfaxre}
    \put(0,3){\makebox{\bfseries Comments:} \@myfaxnumpages}
    \put(0,2){\makebox{\bfseries From:} \@myfaxtelnum}
    \put(0,1){\makebox{\bfseries Re:} \@myfaxnum}
    \put(0,0){\makebox{\bfseries Comments:} \@myfaxcomments}
 \end{picture}%
}

---

A few more suggestions:

• Use \newcommand{\@someinfo}{} and \newcommand{\someinfo}[1]{\renewcommand{\@someinfo}{#1}}. This will allow you to invoke \someinfo any number of times.
• The \makebox seems like it could be replaced with just \textbf.
• If you use tabular or \parbox (or nothing at all) instead of picture, you need not worry about interline space.