[Tex/LaTex] Using lstlistings in two columns

horizontal alignmentlistingsmulticolpage-breaking

My goal is to display source code (awk, Python, R and SAS) and text (their output) side-by-side. Both are loaded from external files, and can be pretty long sometimes (pagebreaking is inevitable), the source code should be syntax highlighted. The source code should stay on the left side, and the output should stay on the right side, even if there is a pagebreak.

I'm using the listings package for its syntax highlighting.

I can't find an environment to behave right when there's a pagebreak.

Some of what I've tried already:

multicols: this environment is fine, until there's a pagebreak (left side breaks to the right side and messes up everything)
minipage: no pagebreak yet

Best Answer

I have finally solved my problem (as I mentioned it in a comment) using the paracol environment.

\documentclass{minimal}
\usepackage{paracol}
\begin{document}
\begin{paracol}{2}
Left
\switchcolumn
Right
\end{paracol}
\end{document}

Still, the background coloring needed some patching up. I've replaced the listing background using the mdframed package.

So the final MWE has come to this:

\documentclass{minimal}

\usepackage{paracol}
\usepackage{listings}
\usepackage[framemethod=TikZ]{mdframed}

\lstnewenvironment{code}{
    \mdframed[outerlinecolor=black, backgroundcolor=gray]{}
}{
    \endmdframed
}

\begin{document}

\begin{paracol}{2}
\begin{code}
Left
\end{code}
\switchcolumn
\begin{code}
Right
\end{code}
\end{paracol}

\end{document}

However, this also generates some warnings (multiply defined labels in mdframed), I've made a patch for this, and asked here whether there is a better solution.

Related Solutions

[Tex/LaTex] Multicol layout with consistent blank column

You can try the paracol package instead of multicol.

In this way you can write all your questions on the first column and then, after issuing

\switchcolumn

you can start writing the code for each page in the second column, for example

{\hfill USE THIS SPACE FOR FIGURING}\vfill{\hfill\small GO ON THE NEXT PAGE}

for all pages and

{\hfill USE THIS SPACE FOR FIGURING}

for the last page.

MWE (note that I've slightly modified your fmpage environment so to not overflow the right margin):

\documentclass[letterpaper,twoside,openright]{memoir}
\usepackage{lipsum}
\usepackage{paracol}
\usepackage[bmargin=1in]{geometry}


%---------          Preamble
\newsavebox{\fmbox}
\newenvironment{fmpage}[1]
{\noindent\begin{lrbox}{\fmbox}\begin{minipage}{\dimexpr#1-2\fboxrule-2\fboxsep}}
{\end{minipage}\end{lrbox}\fbox{\usebox{\fmbox}}\vspace*{.2in}} %

\newcommand{\psechead}[1]
              {\vspace*{1in}
              {\noindent
              {\centering
              {\textbf{#1}}}}}


%---------          Document
\begin{document}
\psechead{SECTION 2 \\ Time - 35 Minutes \\ 37 Questions \\}



%---------          Directions

\begin{fmpage}{\textwidth}
\underline{\textbf{Directions:}} In this section there are four possible answers after each question. Choose which one is best. You may use the blank space at the right of the page for figuring problems.

\medskip

\underline{\textbf{Note:}} Figures are not drawn to scale.
\end{fmpage}

%---------          Questions
\begin{paracol}{2}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item This is a question. Choose the appropriate answer.
      \begin{enumerate}
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
      \end{enumerate}
\end{enumerate}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item This is a question. Choose the appropriate answer.
      \begin{enumerate}
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
      \end{enumerate}
\end{enumerate}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item This is a question. Choose the appropriate answer.
      \begin{enumerate}
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
      \end{enumerate}
\end{enumerate}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item This is a question. Choose the appropriate answer.
      \begin{enumerate}
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
      \end{enumerate}
\end{enumerate}
\newpage
\begin{enumerate}
    \item This is a question. Choose the appropriate answer.
      \begin{enumerate}
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
      \end{enumerate}
\end{enumerate}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item This is a question. Choose the appropriate answer.
      \begin{enumerate}
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
      \end{enumerate}
\end{enumerate}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item This is a question. Choose the appropriate answer.
      \begin{enumerate}
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
      \end{enumerate}
\end{enumerate}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item This is a question. Choose the appropriate answer.
      \begin{enumerate}
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
      \end{enumerate}
\end{enumerate}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item This is a question. Choose the appropriate answer.
      \begin{enumerate}
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
      \end{enumerate}
\end{enumerate}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item This is a question. Choose the appropriate answer.
      \begin{enumerate}
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
      \end{enumerate}
\end{enumerate}
\newpage
\begin{enumerate}
    \item This is a question. Choose the appropriate answer.
      \begin{enumerate}
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
      \end{enumerate}
\end{enumerate}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item This is a question. Choose the appropriate answer.
      \begin{enumerate}
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
        \item Answer.
      \end{enumerate}
\end{enumerate}

\switchcolumn

\vspace*{\baselineskip}
{\hfill USE THIS SPACE FOR FIGURING}\vfill{\hfill\small GO ON THE NEXT PAGE}
\newpage
{\hfill USE THIS SPACE FOR FIGURING}\vfill{\hfill\small GO ON THE NEXT PAGE}
\newpage
{\hfill USE THIS SPACE FOR FIGURING}
\end{paracol}

\end{document}

Output:

enter image description here

[Tex/LaTex] left-to-right itemize in multicols environment

If the multicols environment is no real demand, the tasks environment provides left to right alignment of the individual items.

\documentclass{article}


\usepackage{tasks}
\begin{document}
\begin{tasks}(3)
\task A
\task B
\task C
\task D
\task E
\task F
\end{tasks}

\end{document}

Best Answer

Related Solutions

[Tex/LaTex] Multicol layout with consistent blank column

[Tex/LaTex] left-to-right itemize in multicols environment

Related Question