36

Do you know how I can call a reference to an equation using \ref or \eqref and obtain the (name of the equation) instead of the standard counter?

2
  • What to you mean, "name of the equation"? How is this name defined?
    – mpg
    Nov 4, 2010 at 15:10
  • I think what Abramo means is to write something like \eqname{eqn:Stokes} to produce something like Stokes equation in the document (instead of \eqref{eqn:Stokes} which produces (1)). Abramo, am I right? Nov 4, 2010 at 16:09

2 Answers 2

36

If you use the amsmath package you can do

\begin{equation}
  \tag{*}
  \int_{\partial\Omega} \omega = \int_\Omega d\omega
  \label{eqn:Stokes}
\end{equation}

By \eqref{eqn:Stokes} ...

Is that what you want?

6
  • 4
    @Matthew: I'd always recommend using \eqref{eqn:Stokes} instead of (\ref{eqn:Stokes}). By the way, there's a closing brace missing ... Nov 4, 2010 at 16:03
  • Yeah, this is what i was searching for, but unfortunately it doesn't seem to work with 'eqnarray'
    – Abramo
    Nov 4, 2010 at 17:42
  • 5
    Don't use eqnarray, it is horrible. Use amsmath's align and friends instead. Nov 4, 2010 at 17:48
  • @Hendrik: For some reason I never got into the habit of \eqref although I agree it's better. Thanks also for pointing out my missing brace (and to Khaled I guess for fixing it). Nov 4, 2010 at 17:57
  • 2
    @Hendrik: I like using the fncylab package and then \labelformat{equation}{(#1)} so that I can just write \ref{eqn:Stokes}. Though then it requires more work NOT to get the parentheses.
    – Ryan Reich
    Nov 9, 2010 at 11:14
18

The \tag{your name here} construct can be used inside \begin{equation} .. \end{equation} and the amsmath \begin..end{align} constructs in order to give equations visible names instead of numbers:

\begin{equation}
  \tag{Super Fun Equation}
  y = 3x
\end{equation}

Labels can then be used to refer to names in references:

\begin{equation}
  \tag{Super Fun Equation}
  y = 3x
  \label{eqn:super}
\end{equation}
...
See \eqref{eqn:super} for an awesome equation % See Super Fun Equation for ...
1
  • 1
    I seem to be getting (??) instead of the name. Are there any dependencies I should add? Oct 17, 2023 at 6:24

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .