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I want to create a note about PSTricks and I need macros to typeset syntax in more conventional way that is adopted by most computer scientists. For example, I need a pair of > and < but they must be slimmer than the usual ones. Here I used \guillemotright and \guillemotleft as I could not find the better ones.

Here is my MWE, could you help me to accomplish my objective? Best practice is also welcome!

enter image description here

\documentclass[]{article}
\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
\usepackage{xcolor}

\def\guillemetright{\guillemotright}% from now on we must hide the wrong terms.
\def\guillemetleft{\guillemotleft}% from now on we must hide the wrong terms.

\def\gr{\guillemetright}%I need a single > but not as big as the usual >.
\def\gl{\guillemetleft}%I need a single < but not as big as the usual <.

\newcommand\com[1]{\textbf{\textbackslash #1}}
\newcommand\opt[1][\textit{kv-options}]{\textcolor{blue}{[\gl\ensuremath{#1}\gr]}}
\newcommand\man[1]{\textcolor{red}{\{\gl\ensuremath{#1}\gr\}}}


\begin{document}

\section{Projection}
\fbox{\com{pstProjection}\opt\man{A}\man{B}\man{P_1,\ldots,P_n}\opt[P_1',\ldots,P_n']}

\noindent will project orthogonally the point $P_i$ on the line $\overline{AB}$. 
\end{document}

Note: \man (mandatory) in red, \opt (optional) in blue, \com (command) in black.

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  • If you are doing this often, then you might want to look at something like the listings package to automate the highlighting of different portions. – Peter Grill Mar 15 '12 at 15:45
  • @PeterGrill: If you have time, please give me an example. I haven't elaborated the listing thoroughly. I will compare and might use your suggestion. – kiss my armpit Mar 15 '12 at 15:47
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You're looking for \langle and \rangle:

\newcommand\meta[1]{$\langle#1\rangle$}
\newcommand\opt[1][\textit{kv-options}]{\textcolor{blue}{[\meta{#1}]}}
\newcommand\man[1]{\textcolor{red}{\{\meta{#1}\}}}

With it you get, from

\com{pstProjection}\opt\man{A}\man{B}\man{P_1,\ldots,P_n}\opt[P_1',\ldots,P_n']

the following result

enter image description here

The alternative version using

\newcommand{\meta}[1]{\guilsinglleft$#1$\guilsinglright}

doesn't seem as good

enter image description here

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  • Is there a single guillemot explained here in LaTeX ? – kiss my armpit Mar 15 '12 at 10:18
  • Yes, there is. But the result is not good, IMO. I'll add it for comparison. – egreg Mar 15 '12 at 10:20
  • The main brackets look clearer when using single guillemots I think. Thank you. – kiss my armpit Mar 15 '12 at 10:29
  • @DamienWalters: you can always make them \bigl[ ... \bigr], this should help. – mbork Mar 15 '12 at 12:24
  • @DamienWalters -- please don't call them "guillemots". (yes, i know, adobe got it wrong; acknowledged, according to wikipedia, in the 3rd edition of the postscript language reference manual, p.783, character set endnote 3.) guillemots are small black sea birds. the correct term is "guillemets". – barbara beeton Mar 15 '12 at 13:58

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