\renewcommand in tabular with \input

Question

I have generated a bunch of files (exp1.tex-exp10.tex) for different experiments that define my variables by

\renewcommand{\minabserror}{\SI{0.01}{\meter}~}%
\renewcommand{\minabserrorat}{\SI{1.4}{\meter}~}%

In my float text, I can therefore write

\input{exp1}
The maximum rangee is \minabserror and occured at \minabserrorat.

\input{exp2}
The maximum range is \minabserror and occured at \minabserrorat.

, which will have the expected outcome.

When I do this in a table by

\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{ccc}
number    &    minerror    &     location     \\
\input{exp1}
1         &    \minabserror &     \minabserrorat  \\
\input{exp2}
2         &    \minabserror &     \minabserrorat  \\
\end{tabular}
\caption{my summary table}
\end{table}

, my "variables" are not updated.

Answer 1

Use \gdef instead of \renewcommand, which is not global and does not survive from one table cell (where is used with \input) to the next table cell. However, \gdef (global def) does survive this cell grouping.

Depending on the precise usage there are better strategies or setups, most likely.

exp1.tex

\gdef\minabserror{\SI{0.01}{\meter}~}%
\gdef\minabserrorat{\SI{1.4}{\meter}~}%

and exp2.tex

\gdef\minabserror{\SI{0.05}{\meter}~}%
\gdef\minabserrorat{\SI{1.9}{\meter}~}%

The main document:

\documentclass{article}

\usepackage{siunitx}
\providecommand{\minabserror}{}
\providecommand{\minabserrorat}{}


\begin{document}
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{ccc}
number    &    minerror    &     location     \\
\input{exp1}
1         &    \minabserror &     \minabserrorat  \\
\input{exp2}
2         &    \minabserror &     \minabserrorat  \\
\end{tabular}
\caption{my summary table}
\end{table}
\end{document}