I don't really get the question so I hope this is what you wanted. If you include a full document (such that we copy paste and see the problem on our systems) things are much more easier.
Here, you can change the default setting within a scope but your block
style had a node distance
which was resetting every time it is issued. I've made it 2mm such that we can see the difference easier.
\documentclass[tikz]{standalone}
\usetikzlibrary{arrows,shapes.geometric,positioning}
\begin{document}
\begin{tikzpicture}[decision/.style={diamond, draw, text width=4.5em, text badly centered, node distance=3.5cm, inner sep=0pt},
block/.style ={rectangle, draw, text width=6em, text centered, rounded corners, minimum height=4em, minimum height=2em},
cloud/.style ={draw, ellipse, minimum height=2em},
line/.style ={draw,-latex'},
node distance = 1cm,
auto]
\node [block] (1st) {1st};
\node [block, right= of 1st] (2nd1) {2nd1};
\begin{scope}[node distance=2mm and 10mm]%Here we change it for everything inside this scope
\node [block, above= of 2nd1] (2nd2) {2nd2};
\node [block, below= of 2nd1] (2nd3) {2nd3};
\node [block, right= of 2nd1] (3rd1) {3rd1};
\node [block, above= of 3rd1] (3rd2) {3rd2};
\node [block, above= of 3rd2] (3rd3) {3rd3};
\end{scope}
\node [block, below= of 3rd1] (3rd4) {3rd4};
\node [block, below= of 3rd4] (3rd5) {3rd5};
\path [line] (1st) -- (2nd1);
\path [line] (2nd1) -- (2nd2);
\path [line] (2nd1) -- (2nd3);
\path [line] (2nd2) -- (3rd3);
\path [line] (2nd1) -- (3rd1);
\path [line] (1st) -- (2nd1);
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}
The natbib
package provides a parameter just for doing what you need: add
\setlength{\bibsep}{\baselineskip} % or 6pt or ...
or whatever length you prefer; this will leave a blank line between two items.
Best Answer
You can use the
alignat
environment, that gives full control over the alignment:Actually only the widest entry in the second column needs the padding, but it's easier to specify it on each one.
The "2" refers to the number of "left hand side-right hand side" groups you need.
A more general solution is to define a new environment:
You have both
royalign
androyalign*
; you can check that the spacing is exactly what you specify in the argument.