Modifying another checkmark, or adding another one?

Question

I should explain beforehand, that I use XeLaTeX, so I have access to all kinds of fonts, and Unicode support.

Now, I'm using the "BALLOT BOX" (U+2610) and "BALLOT BOX WITH CHECK" (U+2611) quite often for attendance protocols.

Now, I'd like to add another character in the likes of that, but with a little "e" or "E" inside the ballot box. This is what I plan to use for "excused". I'd much rather mix the "BALLOT BOX" character with a smaller "E", rather than constructing a new shape as SVG or something, so it'll be no problem when changing to a different font.

Answer 1

Well, maybe you may just use a \fbox, and you can change the spacing and font size:

\documentclass{article}

\usepackage{relsize}

\begin{document}

A\raisebox{0.1em}{\smaller\fboxsep0.1em\fbox{E}}B

\end{document}

You don't need a Unicode font for this.

---

And of course, you can mix the two symbols:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{fontspec}
\setmainfont{Arial Unicode MS}
\usepackage{relsize}
\begin{document}

A\ooalign{\symbol{"2610}\cr\hfil\smaller[2]\raisebox{0.1em}{E}\hfil\cr}B\symbol{"2611}

\end{document}

Answer 2

The following example defines \ballot that takes an argument that is put into the empty ballot box both horizontally and vertically centered. If necessary the contents is scaled down to fit the ballot box.

\documentclass[12pt]{article}
\usepackage{graphics}
\usepackage{fontspec}

\newdimen\BallotDimen
\newsavebox\BallotBoxEmpty
\newsavebox\BallotBoxChar
\newcommand*{\ballot}[1]{%
  \begingroup
    \setlength{\fboxrule}{0pt}%
    \sbox\BallotBoxEmpty{^^^^2610}%
    \setlength{\fboxsep}{.175\wd\BallotBoxEmpty}%
    \BallotDimen=\dimexpr\wd\BallotBoxEmpty-2\fboxsep\relax
    \sbox\BallotBoxChar{#1}%
    \ifdim\wd\BallotBoxChar>\BallotDimen
      \sbox\BallotBoxChar{\resizebox{\BallotDimen}{!}{\usebox\BallotBoxChar}}%
    \fi
    \ifdim\dp\BallotBoxChar>0pt %
      \sbox\BallotBoxChar{\raisebox{\dp\BallotBoxChar}{\usebox\BallotBoxChar}}%
    \fi
    \ifdim\ht\BallotBoxChar>\BallotDimen
      \sbox\BallotBoxChar{\resizebox{!}{\BallotDimen}{\usebox\BallotBoxChar}}%
    \fi
    \ooalign{%
      \usebox\BallotBoxEmpty\cr
      \hfil
      \raisebox{.5\dimexpr\ht\BallotBoxEmpty-\ht\BallotBoxChar}%
               {\usebox\BallotBoxChar}%
      \hfil
    }%
  \endgroup
}

\begin{document}
\fontspec{FreeSerif.otf}
^^^^2610^^^^2611^^^^2612\ballot{E}\ballot{e}\ballot{g}

\end{document}