[Tex/LaTex] \newcommand vs \DeclareRobustCommand

documentclass-writingmacrospackage-writing

I sort of understand the difference between the two. But that's not what I'm interested in—I just want to know, which one should I use? In general, when I'm creating commands in a package or class, which one should I use all the time?

Best Answer

In my opinion, it is better to use \newcommand if there are no obvious expansion issues. There are two drawbacks of \DeclareRobustCommand:

\DeclareRobustCommand does not check if the macro is predefined.
Macros defined by \DeclareRobustCommand are less efficient.

Related Solutions

[Tex/LaTex] Make your own .sty files

Here is a skeleton for an own package:

% this is my first package
% 
% (c) Buffalo Bill
%
%% This program can be redistributed and/or modified under the terms
%% of the LaTeX Project Public License Distributed from CTAN archives
%% in directory macros/latex/base/lppl.txt.
% 
\NeedsTeXFormat{LaTeX2e}[1994/06/01]
\ProvidesPackage{mypackage}
  [2011/01/11 v0.01 LaTeX package for my own purpose]

\RequirePackage{whateverwe need}
\newcommand{\hi}{Hello, this is my own package}
\let\myDate\date
\newcommand\GoodBye[1][\bfseries]{{#1Good Bye}}

\endinput
%%
%% End of file `mypackage.sty'.

[Tex/LaTex] Customizing LaTeX – create a document class or a package

Maybe one could say a package is for extending possibilities, a class is for restricting possibilities.

If you want to add new features which can help users create specific effects in a lot of different document types, a package is for you.

If you want to set sensible defaults and create an optimal environment for efficiently creating documents of a specific type without having to do a lot of customisation, make a class.

There are a lot of fringe cases, of course ;-)

Best Answer

Related Solutions

[Tex/LaTex] Make your own .sty files

[Tex/LaTex] Customizing LaTeX – create a document class or a package

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