How to set a minimum width for \dotfill - TeX

TopAnswers TeX

Top Answer

Skillmon

Taking a look at how `\dotfill` is actually defined will help us understand how relatively simple this task really is:

```
\dotfill :
macro:->\leavevmode \cleaders \hb@xt@ .44em{\hss .\hss }\hfill \kern \z@
```

Let's break this apart a bit:

- `\leavevmode` should be rather obvious, we want to do something in the horizontal direction, so no vertical mode!

- `\cleaders` is an interesting primitive. This here is the short description provided in TeXbyTopic:
    > `\leaders` Fill a specified amount of space with a rule or copies of box.
    > `\cleaders` Like `\leaders`, but with box leaders any excess space is split equally before and after the leaders.
   So we get a primitive that will as following object take either a `\vrule`/`\hrule` primitive, or a box (`\hbox`?!) and repeat that object for as much space as a following space-skipping command will take.
   
- `\hb@xt@` oh, a horizontal box, this one will have a width of `.44em`.

- `\hss` infinitely stretchable/shrinkable horizontal space (will, in addition with the second `\hss` centre the `.` inside the box -- this is basically the same as saying `\makebox[.44em][c]{.}` in LaTeX syntax)

- `\hfill` oh, a horizontal space-skipping command (second order infinitely stretchable space, at least 0pt)

- `\kern\z@` a kern of zero width to prevent TeX from unskipping the previous `\hfill`


So all we have to do is use another skip-size than `\hfill`, one that might stretch into infinity, but covers at least 0.5cm: `\hskip 0.5cm plus 1fill`.

With that out of the way we can define our ultimate `\quackfill`:

```
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{multicol}

\newcommand\quackfill
  {%
    \leavevmode
    \quad
    \cleaders
      \hbox to .44em{\hss.\hss}%
      \hskip 0.5cm plus 1fill\relax
    \quad
    \kern0pt %<- protect the `\quad`
  }

\begin{document}
\setlength\parindent{0pt}
\begin{multicols}{2}
  \raggedleft
  \textsc{abc}: a big cat\quackfill 1, 2, 3\par
  \textsc{abc}: a big cat\quackfill 1, 2, 3\par
  \textsc{abc}: a big cat\quackfill 1, 2, 3\par
  \textsc{abc}: a big cat\quackfill 1, 2, 3\par
  \textsc{abc}: a big cat\quackfill 1, 2, 3\par
  \textsc{abc}: a big cat\quackfill 1, 2, 3\par
  \textsc{abc}: a big cat\quackfill 1, 2, 3\par
  \textsc{abc}: a big cat\quackfill 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10\par
\end{multicols}
\end{document}
```

![foo.png](/image?hash=cd5742c676856362ac20b4516bf616c49dccf12b26cfa3bbd0ce0305c2762274)

Here is an improved version, that's justified except in the last line, with hanging indent except in the first line: ``` \documentclass{article} \usepackage{multicol} \usepackage[oldstyle]{kpfonts} \newcommand\quackfill{% \leavevmode \quad \cleaders \hbox to .44em{\hss.\hss}% \hskip 0.5cm plus 1fill\relax \quad \kern0pt\relax %<- protect the `\quad` } \NewDocumentCommand \quacklist { m m m } {% \par \smallskip % <- change this to get different vertical spacing \begingroup \rightskip=0pt % <- flush on the right side \parfillskip=0pt % <- also in the last line \leftskip=1em plus 1fil % <- ragged on the left side with min 1em indent \finalhyphendemerits=0 % <- hyphenating the penultimate line isn't bad \noindent \hskip-\leftskip % <- cancel out the leftskip on the first line \textbf{\textsc{#1:}} \em#2\quackfill#3\par \endgroup } \begin{document} \section*{Basically raggedleft except the first and \texttt{\string\quackfill}ed line} \begin{multicols}{2} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abcdefghi}{a big cat and its big and fluffy tail a big cat and its big and fluffy tail}{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10} \quacklist{abcdefghi}{a big cat and its big and fluffy tail and a big fat belly that calls for affection only when allowed by the majesty.} {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10} \end{multicols} \section*{Basically justified except the last line} \RenewDocumentCommand \quacklist { m m m } {% \par \smallskip % <- change this to get different vertical spacing \begingroup \rightskip=0pt plus -1fil % <- cancel out leftskip stretch on all lines \parfillskip=0pt plus 1fil % <- except the last one \leftskip=1em plus 1fil % <- ragged on the left side with min 1em indent \finalhyphendemerits=0 % <- hyphenating the penultimate line isn't bad \parindent=-1em % <- cancel out the 1em indent leftskip on the first line \textbf{\textsc{#1:}} \em#2\quackfill#3\par \endgroup } \begin{multicols}{2} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abcdefghi}{a big cat and its big and fluffy tail a big cat and its big and fluffy tail}{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10} \quacklist{abcdefghi}{a big cat and its big and fluffy tail and a big fat belly that calls for affection only when allowed by the majesty.} {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10} \end{multicols} \end{document} ``` ![foo.png](/image?hash=bfbbd906c05d0d1cf901df9d3d96fd4f716d5c55b479c0ef621e6a9262fdf7c6)

You mean something like this? It looks good to me honestly. Also this situation is a little rare, so I think I will go with this. ![blob](/image?hash=b00d805c788e6cf6f47a20436846231a4381117445a7bfc2911a312835919f7f)

I'd not bother with lists if you plan to put each entry in its own macro call: ``` \documentclass{article} \usepackage{multicol} \usepackage[oldstyle]{kpfonts} \newcommand\quackfill{% \leavevmode \quad \cleaders \hbox to .44em{\hss.\hss}% \hskip 0.5cm plus 1fill\relax \quad \kern0pt\relax %<- protect the `\quad` } \NewDocumentCommand \quacklist { m m m } {% \par \smallskip % <- change this to get different vertical spacing \begingroup \rightskip=0pt % <- flush on the right side \parfillskip=0pt % <- also in the last line \leftskip=1em plus 1fil % <- ragged on the left side with min 1em indent \finalhyphendemerits=0 % <- hyphenating the penultimate line isn't bad \noindent \hskip-\leftskip % <- cancel out the leftskip on the first line \textbf{\textsc{#1:}} \em#2\quackfill#3\par \endgroup } \begin{document} \begin{multicols}{2} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abcdefghi}{a big cat and its big and fluffy tail}{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10} \end{multicols} \end{document} ``` ![foo.png](/image?hash=33b5dfb465a47d4839d3af198b7f5104a7f4e65cd618f6f002e6581649cc90f5)

@Skillmon, thanks for the answer. It is almost okay if I make a compromise on right alignment. If I add a bigger phrase, I get the following output: ![blob](/image?hash=d09144043748348bd7341ea02481be43f81c0c366f2baca6bac9a9ac713cd959) If I remove `\raggedleft`, I get: ![blob](/image?hash=8b26e75fd6cfc8e1059234e32d10445d91f7d9971b83a2f297d0c5b9c6b9bafb) I like the second output. I am curious if just the `\hfill` protect your code from the problem Fran showed in his answer? I combined your answer with some `\list` magic and I am very happy with the output: ``` \documentclass{article} \usepackage{multicol} \usepackage[oldstyle]{kpfonts} \newcommand\quackfill{% \leavevmode \quad \cleaders \hbox to .44em{\hss.\hss}% \hskip 0.5cm plus 1fill\relax \quad \kern0pt\relax %<- protect the `\quad` } \NewDocumentCommand \quacklist { m m m } {% \setlength\topsep{0pt} \setlength\parskip{0pt} \setlength\partopsep{0pt} \setlength\parsep{0pt} \setlength\itemsep{0pt} \setlength\leftmargini{0.5cm} \begin{list}% {\bfseries\scshape #1:}% {\setlength{\labelwidth=0.5em}}% \item \em #2\quackfill #3% \end{list}% } \begin{document} \begin{multicols}{2} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abc}{a big cat}{1, 2, 3} \quacklist{abcdefghi}{a big cat and its big and fluffy tail}{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10} \end{multicols} \end{document} ``` ![blob](/image?hash=b61114ecb115e4a1aca85f7134a96c1026cf46e456fc3c20caccd961b3a80754) Can the vertical space between two lists (i.e., two entries) decrease further? Note that each entry is a separate list in this code. I removed all vertical spaces mentioned [here](latexref.xyz/list.html), but still there is some white space.

The space between the dots can be a bit uneven, but maybe something like this would do? ``` \documentclass{article} \usepackage{multicol} \usepackage{microtype} \newcommand{\quackfill}{\quad\makebox[0.465cm][l]{\dotfill}\kern-0.02cm\mbox{}\dotfill\quad} \begin{document} \setlength\parindent{0pt} \begin{multicols}{2} \raggedleft \textsc{abc}: a big cat\quackfill 1, 2, 3\par \textsc{abc}: a big cat\quackfill 1, 2, 3\par \textsc{abc}: a big cat\quackfill 1, 2, 3\par \textsc{abc}: a big cat\quackfill 1, 3\par \textsc{abc}: a big cat\quackfill 1, 2, 3\par \textsc{abc}: a big cat\quackfill 1, 2, 3\par \textsc{abc}: a big cat\quackfill 1, 2, 3\par \textsc{abc}: a big cat\quackfill 1, 2, 3\par \textsc{abc}: a big cat\quackfill 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 17, 18, 19, 10 \end{multicols} \end{document} ```

Something better: ``` \DocumentMetadata{tagging={on},lang={en-GB}} \documentclass{article} \usepackage{multicol} \ExplSyntaxOn \dim_new:N \l__tmp_i_have_dim \dim_new:N \l__tmp_i_need_dim \dim_new:N \l__tmp_remain_dim \dim_new:N \l__tmp_i_hack_dim \NewDocumentCommand \mydotfill { m m } { \group_begin: \box_clear:N \l_tmpa_box \box_clear:N \l_tmpb_box \hbox_set:Nn \l_tmpa_box { #1 } \hbox_set:Nn \l_tmpb_box { #2 } \dim_set:Nn \l__tmp_i_have_dim { \box_wd:N \l_tmpa_box } \dim_set:Nn \l__tmp_remain_dim { \linewidth - \box_wd:N \l_tmpb_box } \dim_set:Nn \l__tmp_i_need_dim { \dim_use:N \l__tmp_i_have_dim + 0.88em } \dim_set:Nn \l__tmp_i_hack_dim { \box_wd:N \l_tmpa_box - 0.5cm } \dim_compare:nNnTF \l__tmp_remain_dim > \l__tmp_i_need_dim { #1 \quad \dotfill \quad #2 } { #1 \hfill \hbox:n { } \\[-1ex] \hspace * { \dim_use:N \l__tmp_i_hack_dim } \hfill $\vdots$ \dotfill #2 } \group_end: } \ExplSyntaxOff \begin{document} \setlength\parindent{0pt} \begin{multicols}{2} \mydotfill{\textsc{abc}: a big cat}{1, 2, 3}\par \mydotfill{\textsc{abc}: a big cat}{1, 2, 3}\par \mydotfill{\textsc{abc}: a big cat}{1, 2, 3}\par \mydotfill{\textsc{abc}: a big cat}{1, 2, 3}\par \mydotfill{\textsc{abc}: a big cat}{1, 2, 3}\par \mydotfill{\textsc{abc}: a big cat}{1, 2, 3}\par \mydotfill{\textsc{abc}: a big cat}{1, 2, 3}\par \mydotfill{\textsc{abc}: a big cat}{1, 2, 3}\par \mydotfill{\textsc{abc}: a big cat}% {% 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21% } \end{multicols} \end{document} ``` ![blob](/image?hash=985f6affcb95c96ed17507b3506c4c3881093d134e719d4787a1bd87175ad042)

Here is a package-less adaptation of his answer: ``` \DocumentMetadata{tagging={on},lang={en-GB}} \documentclass{article} \usepackage{multicol} \ExplSyntaxOn \dim_new:N \l__tmp_i_have_dim \dim_new:N \l__tmp_i_need_dim \dim_new:N \l__tmp_remain_dim \NewDocumentCommand \mydotfill { m m } { \group_begin: \box_clear:N \l_tmpa_box \box_clear:N \l_tmpb_box \hbox_set:Nn \l_tmpa_box { #1 } \hbox_set:Nn \l_tmpb_box { #2 } \dim_set:Nn \l__tmp_i_have_dim { \box_wd:N \l_tmpa_box } \dim_set:Nn \l__tmp_remain_dim { \linewidth - \box_wd:N \l_tmpb_box } \dim_set:Nn \l__tmp_i_need_dim { \dim_use:N \l__tmp_i_have_dim + 0.88em } \dim_compare:nNnTF \l__tmp_remain_dim > \l__tmp_i_need_dim { #1 \quad \dotfill \quad #2 } { #1 \\[-1ex] \mbox{} \hfill $\vdots$ \dotfill #2 } \group_end: } \ExplSyntaxOff \begin{document} \setlength\parindent{0pt} \begin{multicols}{2} \mydotfill{\textsc{abc}: a big cat}{1, 2, 3}\par \mydotfill{\textsc{abc}: a big cat}{1, 2, 3}\par \mydotfill{\textsc{abc}: a big cat}{1, 2, 3}\par \mydotfill{\textsc{abc}: a big cat}{1, 2, 3}\par \mydotfill{\textsc{abc}: a big cat}{1, 2, 3}\par \mydotfill{\textsc{abc}: a big cat}{1, 2, 3}\par \mydotfill{\textsc{abc}: a big cat}{1, 2, 3}\par \mydotfill{\textsc{abc}: a big cat}{1, 2, 3}\par \mydotfill{\textsc{abc}: a big cat}% {% 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21% } \end{multicols} \end{document} ``` but not satisfactory: ![blob](/image?hash=459b64af3b0e71b6749a15127b050b750b0be963e986ef8632c8abecff780b51)

1 Answer