[texhax] units

[W. J. Metzger]

On Fri, 13 Jun 2003, Robin Fairbairns wrote:
 
> > > For a more complete handling of units with correct spacing, compounding
> > > etc., check out the "SIunits" package, also on CTAN.
> >
> > Well, I am underimpressed.
> > Try \electronvolt.  The V really should be negatively kerned -- the space
> > between the e and the V is unsightly large.
> > Try \square\giga\electronvolt.  The square is applied to the G not to the
> > V, i.e., you get G^2eV rather than GeV^2.  To get it right you need to use
> > \giga\square\electronvolt, which does not read normally. What you would
> > say is giga-electronvolt-squared.
> > Further, it does not handle spacing.  One would like 5\meter  and
> > 5 \meter to produce the same thing.
>
> and you've sent a list of suggestions to the author?
 
Not yet.  I only just tried the package after its recommendation in the
previous posting.   Anyway, it does not seem to give correct spacing as
suggested in the original posting, which as far as I am concerned would
have been its nicest feature.
 
> (fwiw, it's perfectly obvious why \square\giga\electronvolt doesn't
> do what you expect: try \square{\giga\electronvolt} ... it stands a
> better chance of making it through tex parsing.)
 
Of course.  However, one could have implemented it differently, I suppose.
 
Wes
 
--
Dr. W. J. Metzger            Experimental High Energy Physics Group
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