How do I make custom float environments use the same numbering for captions.

Question

I use a custom float environment that is basically used as a table environment that provides extra formatting. I would like this environment to use the same numbering as the regular table floats. Is there a way to do that? I have already changed the floatname to match Table by using the floatname command. Here is my initialization code:

\newfloat{newtable}{tbp}{lop}[chapter]
\floatname{newtable}{Table}

Regular tables numbering also span over chapters... do you have any ideas?

Answer 1

If you're doing this only to get a second table environment with different formatting, why don't you simply define it in terms of the existing table? For example something like

\newenvironment{newtable}{\table[opts]\formatting\stuff}{\endtable}

Answer 2

A hackish solution - possibly with adverse effects - is to increment the table counter after a newtable environment and vice versa.

\documentclass{book}

\usepackage{float}
\newfloat{newtable}{tbp}{lop}[chapter]
\floatname{newtable}{Table}

\makeatletter
\g@addto@macro\endnewtable{\refstepcounter{table}}
\g@addto@macro\endtable{\refstepcounter{newtable}}
\makeatother

\begin{document}

\chapter{A chapter}

\begin{table}[!ht]
\caption{A table}
\end{table}

\begin{newtable}[!ht]
\caption{A newtable}
\end{newtable}

\begin{table}[!ht]
\caption{Another table}
\end{table}

\end{document}