# Adding an asterisk to specific numbering in the multienum package

@egreg answered beautifully my question on adding an asterisk to an item locally by introducing the command \moditem. I am wondering if this is possible with specific items in the multienum package. This is what I have so far:

\documentclass[letterpaper]{article}

\usepackage{multienum}

\begin{document}
\begin{multienumerate}
{\renewcommand{\labelname}{\llap{*}\csname
labelenum\romannumeral\themultienumdepth\endcsname}
\mitemx{one}
\mitemxx{two}{three}}
\mitemxx{four}{five}
\end{multienumerate}
\end{document}


The problem I see is that the multienum does not define each item independently, e.g. \mitemxx{<content>}{<content>}. So for example, if I want to put an asterisk to item 3 it would be a little difficult, at least for me. Essentially, I want to be able to put an asterisk in possibly two different ways:

1. A command like \mitemax{<content with asterisk>}{<content without asterisk>} so that wherever the a is found then there is where the asterisk is found. So that \mitemxa would define a different scenario. Of course, I believe this is tough as you would possibly need to create several custom commands for all scenarios of \mitemx, \mitemxx, \mitemxxx, \mitemxxxx,\mitemxxxxx.
2. Simply a command, say \astmitem that redefines locally the label. For example, \mitemxx{\astitem <content>}{<content>} will put an asterisk at the front of the first item. This is easier but I can't figure it out.

## UPDATE

The answer @cgnieder provided was excellent but when I do something like:

\newcommand*\doexercise[1][\includegraphics[scale=0.125]{g3016}]{%
\gdef\labelname{%
\llap{#1}%
\csname labelenum\romannumeral\themultienumdepth\endcsname
\gdef\labelname{%
\csname labelenum\romannumeral\themultienumdepth\endcsname}%
}}


it does not work. Why? The graphics file could be replaced with any symbol. Works well if you replace \includegraphics[scale=0.125]{g3016} with *.

Solved by replacing \includegraphics[scale=0.125]{g3016} with {\includegraphics[scale=0.125]{g3016}}. You can read ] inside an optional argument for further info as to the fix.

• Have you tried \newcommand*\doexercise[1][{\includegraphics[scale=0.125]{g3016}}]{...} (notice the extra pair of braces around \includegraphics[...)? – clemens Dec 11 '13 at 21:38
• @cgnieder Why does that work and not as I have it? – azetina Dec 11 '13 at 21:39
• because of the square brackets, see tex.stackexchange.com/q/99495/5049 – clemens Dec 11 '13 at 21:43

Here's an idea for a \starnext command that redefines \labelname in a way that it will restore itself when called. This gives you nearly the syntax that you outlined in your question:

\documentclass{article}

\usepackage{multienum}
\newcommand*\starnext{%
\gdef\labelname{%
\llap{*}%
\csname labelenum\romannumeral\themultienumdepth\endcsname
\gdef\labelname{%
\csname labelenum\romannumeral\themultienumdepth\endcsname}%
}}

\begin{document}

\begin{multienumerate}
\mitemx{one\starnext}
\mitemxx{two}{three}
\mitemxx{four\starnext}{five}
\end{multienumerate}

\begin{multienumerate}\starnext
\mitemx{one}
\mitemxx{two}{three\starnext}
\mitemxx{four}{five}
\end{multienumerate}

\end{document}


• Seems to do the job. I had redefined the entire multinenum package but I guess I prefer your code sample. Thanks. – azetina Jul 1 '13 at 20:39
• Can this be done so that the asterisk occurs on the item its placed? I was thinking with an if else statement but hmmmmm not sure. – azetina Dec 10 '13 at 17:21
• @azetina probably not without redefining all the \mitem<x> macros – clemens Dec 10 '13 at 18:36
• Why can't I include a graphics. See my question edit. – azetina Dec 11 '13 at 21:30