[Tex/LaTex] Usage of the \dimexpr command

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I have MiKTeX 2.3 and its version of e-TeX does not support \dimexpr command. I do not want to update this MiKTeX now and wonder, is it possible to define the \dimexpr command, probably with use of calc package?

Best Answer

No, it is not possible to define it yourself but probably you do not need to anyway. Th \dimexpr primitive is provided by e-TeX, and since it is a primitive ('build in') it cannot be properly simulated by a macro. However, e-TeX has been around for many years. Older TeX systems used to require you to explicitly ask for e-TeX, so using etex, elatex, pdfelatex, etc. Thus you should try inserting an 'e' into whichever command you currently use to run TeX: I would guess you use either latex or pdflatex, so try elatex or pdfelatex as a replacement.

Related Solutions

[Tex/LaTex] Why does \dimexpr swallow \relax

To add to what Hendrik says, I think the overall point was that \numexpr, \dimexpr, etc. can be used in a full expansion context without leaving a stray \relax or space:

\edef\example{\the\dimexpr 10 pt + 20 pt \relax}

gives \example defined as 30pt with no unexpected tokens. That is in many ways much 'neater' than the alternative of leaving the \relax in place. The same argument does not apply to TeX's setting of registers as that is never expandable, so the issue does not arise.

(Of course, for a definitive answer you would need to ask the members of the NTS team who actually wrote this code.)

[Tex/LaTex] References for \dimexpr \numexpr

These are primitives which are not present in Knuth's TeX but which were added as part of the e-TeX extensions. As such, they are documented in the e-TeX manual, which is most conveniently accessed using texdoc etex.

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Related Solutions

[Tex/LaTex] Why does \dimexpr swallow \relax

[Tex/LaTex] References for \dimexpr \numexpr

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