Using a figure again in document

Question

I have drawn a schematic geometry an I want to describe the results of simulations I did with several configuration. So in Section XY I describe the simulations I did with a case set-up using the parameter set A refering to Figure 23 that contains the sketch of the geometry.

Later in Section XZ I write about simulations on a case using parameter set B. In order to avoid referring to a Figure that is located 10 pages earlier in the document I want to repeat Figure 23.

So I have several questions:

• Should I use the same figure number? If I repeat equations I use \tag{\ref{}} to get the same equation number. How can I achieve this with Figures?
• Can I reuse the figure caption somehow by some latex magic in order to avoid code duplication?
• Is there a correct way to do this? Am I violating some rules of style for thesis writing with my intended solution? I am aware that having the Figure 23 at page 67 and at page 89 feels weird, but as it is the same Figure, it seems to me to be the honest solution.

---

I am aware of the questions

• Q: Using the same picture over and over?
• Q: Is there a way to use a previous TikZ picture? [duplicate]

Answer 1

I would duplicate the figure contents, just using a new environment that does some setup which avoids problems:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{graphicx}
\usepackage{hyperref}

% \begin{reusefigure}[<float spec>]{<ref>}
\newenvironment{reusefigure}[2][htbp]
  {\addtocounter{figure}{-1}%
   \renewcommand{\theHfigure}{dupe-fig}% If you're using hyperref
   \renewcommand{\thefigure}{\ref{#2}}% Figure counter is \ref
   %\renewcommand{\thefigure}{\ref{#2} (repeated)}% Figure counter + "(repeated)"
   \renewcommand{\addcontentsline}[3]{}% Avoid placing figure in LoF
   \begin{figure}[#1]}
  {\end{figure}}

\begin{document}

We have Figures~\ref{fig:caption-a},~\ref{fig:caption-b} and~\ref{fig:caption-c}.

\begin{figure}[ht]
  \centering\includegraphics[height=50pt]{example-image-a}
  \caption{A figure caption}\label{fig:caption-a}
\end{figure}

\begin{reusefigure}[ht]{fig:caption-a}
  \centering\includegraphics[height=50pt]{example-image-b}
  \caption{A figure caption}\label{fig:caption-b}
\end{reusefigure}

\begin{figure}[ht]
  \centering\includegraphics[height=50pt]{example-image-c}
  \caption{Another figure}\label{fig:caption-c}
\end{figure}

\end{document}

The reusefigure environment takes two arguments. The first is optional and similar to the float specification of regular figure floats. The second is mandatory and takes the \label of the figure to be reused.

Appropriate settings are adjusted prior to re-using the figure, including settings that for use with hyperref. Entry into the LoF is avoided, since it's not necessary.

---

Here is an implementation that automates the process. A to-be-used-later figure is constructed using sourcefigure. Then, to reuse this figure, use \reusefigure[<float spec>]{<ref>} where you specify the <ref> used in the \label of sourcefigure:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{graphicx,environ}
\usepackage{hyperref}

\NewEnviron{sourcefigure}[1][htbp]{%
  {\let\caption\relax\let\ref\relax
   \renewcommand{\label}[1]{%
    \gdef\sfname{sf:##1}}%
    \setbox1=\hbox{\BODY}}% Capture \label
    \global\expandafter\let\csname\sfname\endcsname\BODY% Capture entire figure
  \begin{figure}[#1]
    \BODY
  \end{figure}
}
\newcommand{\reusefigure}[2][htbp]{%
  {\addtocounter{figure}{-1}%
   \renewcommand{\theHfigure}{dupe-fig}% If you're using hyperref
   \renewcommand{\thefigure}{\ref{#2}}% Figure counter is \ref
   %\renewcommand{\thefigure}{\ref{#2} (repeated)}% Figure counter + "(repeated)"
   \renewcommand{\addcontentsline}[3]{}% Avoid placing figure in LoF
   \renewcommand{\label}[1]{}% Make \label inactive
   \begin{figure}[#1] \csname sf:#2\endcsname \end{figure}}
}

\begin{document}

We have Figures~\ref{fig:caption-a} and~\ref{fig:caption-c}.

\begin{sourcefigure}[ht]
  \centering\includegraphics[height=50pt]{example-image-a}
  \caption{A figure caption}\label{fig:caption-a}
\end{sourcefigure}

\reusefigure[ht]{fig:caption-a}

\begin{figure}[ht]
  \centering\includegraphics[height=50pt]{example-image-c}
  \caption{Another figure}\label{fig:caption-c}
\end{figure}

\end{document}

The \label macro is disabled inside \reusefigure, so referencing the reused figure is not possible (but surely not needed).

Answer 2

If you run into problem with \newenvironment macro (needing \protect and \expandafter, etc.), you can try:

\begin{figure}
  \centering
  \includegraphics[height=50pt]{example-image-a}
  \caption{Figure A, initial usage}
  \label{fig:a}
\end{figure}

\begin{figure*}
  \centering
  \includegraphics[height=50pt]{example-image-a}
  \caption*{Figure \ref{fig:A}: Figure A, later usage somewhere else}
\end{figure*}

\begin{figure}
  \centering
  \includegraphics[height=50pt]{example-image-b}
  \caption{Figure B, showing that the second usage of figure A does not increase counter}
  \label{fig:b}
\end{figure}