TeXblog

ConTeXt Mark IV support in MiKTeX

The recently released version 2.9 of MiKTeX, which is the first MiKTeX release with LuaTeX integration, now supports ConTeXt Mark IV, as Christian Schenk announced.

31. October 2010 by stefan
Categories: Uncategorized | 1 comment

Trees in TikZ

Peter Smit asked on TeX.SX:

 
How to make a three level deep tree with TikZ?
 

I am busy making a full binary tree of three levels deep.

The code I am having now is (using the trees library):

\begin{tikzpicture}
  \node {root}
    child {node {left}
      child {node {lleft}}
      child {node {rleft}}
    }
    child {node {right}
    child {node {lright}}
      child {node {rright}}
    };
\end{tikzpicture}

The problem is that rleft and right are printed over each other.

Preferably I would like TikZ to figure this out by itself, for example if I give a minimum distance between nodes on the same level. Is this possible? (My final nodes will not have text but will be fixed size shapes)

Off course it can be that the solution is: “Don’t use ‘trees'”. In that case, what is the best way to do this?

Answer:

You could specify options for each level, for instance silbling distance but also level distance.

Example:

\documentclass{article} 
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{trees}
\begin{document}
\begin{tikzpicture}[level distance=1.5cm,
  level 1/.style={sibling distance=3cm},
  level 2/.style={sibling distance=1.5cm}]
  \node {root}
    child {node {left}
      child {node {lleft}}
      child {node {rleft}}
    }
    child {node {right}
    child {node {lright}}
      child {node {rright}}
    };
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

26. August 2010 by stefan
Categories: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Manually installing a package on MiKTeX (Windows)

Mbmcavoy asked on TeX.SX:

 
How can I manually install a package on MiKTeX (Windows)?
 

I’m using MiKTeX on Windows. My employer’s locked-down network blocks the application’s automatic installation function. I can take my laptop home and successfully install from there, but if I need a package in the middle of the day I’m stuck.

I am able to access the CTAN website and download the package files (.dtx or .ins?), but I don’t know what do do with them. How can I do a manual package installation?

The answer on TeX.SX explains three ways:

• Installing a package available as dtx/ins bundle
• Installing sty or cls files
• Obtaining and installing packaged universal archives in tds format

and it

• Gives links to further information
• Shows a different and very effective way, using a local repository

Read more on the site.

20. August 2010 by stefan
Categories: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Checkers board with TikZ

Lukasz Lew asked on TeX.SX:

 
What is the best way to draw a checkers board in TikZ?
 

I’m interested in what is the best way to draw many circular pieces on board. The checker background is not important.

Answer:

I suggest to use a matrix of nodes from the TikZ matrix library.

\documentclass{article} 
\usepackage{tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{matrix}
\begin{document}
\tikzstyle{ball} = [circle, shading=ball,
    ball color=black!80!white, minimum size=1cm]
\begin{tikzpicture}
  \matrix (m) [matrix of nodes,nodes=ball] {
   {} &    & {} &    & {} &    & {} & \\
      & {} &    & {} &    & {} &    & {} \\
   {} &    & {} &    & {} &    & {} & \\};
  \end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

Output:

18. August 2010 by stefan
Categories: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Aligned equations inside of a TikZ node

Lukasz Lew asked on TeX.SX:

 
How can I create a tree node with aligned math equations inside?
 

\begin{align}
\end{align}

doesn’t work and

\begin{minipage}{100}
  \begin{align}
    ...
  \end{align}
\end{minipage}

gives a lot of margin and I don’t want to manually tune.

\nodepart from shapes tikz library seems to be overkill and doesn’t do the alignment.

Any ideas?

Answer:

You could use an aligned environment with inline math inside nodes, their size is automatically calculated. Here’s a small example with such a node in a tree:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{tikz}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}
\begin{tikzpicture}[every node/.style={rectangle,draw}]
  \node {Example:}
    child {node {%
      $\begin{aligned}
         a &= bx + c\\
         a+b &= d +1
      \end{aligned}$}};
  \end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

Output:

08. August 2010 by stefan
Categories: Uncategorized | Leave a comment