# How can I get to use the sideset command on unusual symbols without an error message

I would like to use the command, $\sideset{_\sigma}{_f}\times$ without an error message. This command renders the way I want it to, (a times with a left subscript of \sigma, and a right subscript of f).

My issue however is that I would like to compile through this error without have to skip it. So my question is can I put a command on that line that will compile though just that line, while being able to troubleshoot around it. In particular I would like to skip a particular error. If not this, is their some other way I might be able to typeset this.

EDIT

Here is the code:

\documentclass[12pt]{article}
%\usepackage{MnSymbol}
\usepackage{amsmath,amssymb,amsfonts, xypic, mathrsfs, graphicx}
\usepackage[all]{xy}

\begin{document}
$\sideset{_g}{_f}\times$
\end{document}


Here is the error message:

./test2.tex:7:Limit controlsmust follow a math operator.

< argument > \times \nolimits

_f
1.7
$\sideset{_\sigma}{_f}\times$
?

• Welcome to TeX.sx! Please add a minimal working example (MWE) that illustrates your problem. What is the error message? We need to know that so that others can try to reproduce the problem and debug it. – barbara beeton Aug 18 '12 at 22:01
• you can use $\sideset{{}_\sigma}{{}_f}{\mathop{\times}}$ but egreg's answer is the way to go. – percusse Aug 18 '12 at 22:07
• Is the edit that I made the right kind of thing? – Baby Dragon Aug 18 '12 at 22:25
• Welcome to TeX.sx! A tip: If you indent lines by 4 spaces, they'll be marked as a code sample. You can also highlight the code and click the "code" button (with "{}" on it). – percusse Aug 18 '12 at 22:34

## 2 Answers

\sideset wants as its third argument an operator such as \sum; you get what you want by

\mathbin{_\sigma\times_f}

• See also this summary of solutions Left and right subscript – Andrew Swann Aug 19 '12 at 7:09
• @AndrewSwann Here the "binary operation" nature of \times must be preserved, which isn't with \prescript. – egreg Aug 19 '12 at 10:30
• I was thinking of two things: (1) the different range of possible commands listed there; (2) the vertical placing in the presence of a superscript on one side but not the other. It is good to note that any of them can be put inside \mathbin to make them into a binary operator, so e.g. one can write $$a \mathbin{\prescript{}{f}{\times}^N_f} b$$ – Andrew Swann Aug 19 '12 at 17:43
• @AndrewSwann The problem is that \prescript assumes the presence of a superscript, even if empty; so to get the symbol at the same height on both sides you have to supply an empty superscript: \prescript{}{\sigma}{\times}^{}_f. I'd prefer not using \prescript. – egreg Aug 19 '12 at 21:13

I didn't understand wat you want well but the sideset command should be in this format:

\sideset{_{left below} ^{left top}} {_{right below} ^{right top}} {a math operator like \sum}


Be successful.